Schroeder: Goal of Negotiations is Full Membership

Schröeder wrote an article for the German newspaper, Die Welt, in which he signified the only aim of the negotiations is full membership of Turkey. The Chancellor emphasized Turkey’s positive progress report by the Commission and noted that he will deliver his opinion at the summit on December 17 that negotiations should begin. He pointed out that the EU is a community of values based on democracy, freedom, pluralism and tolerance. A democratic Turkey based on European values would be evidence that there is no conflict between Islamic belief and a modern society.

German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer discussed his findings from the petition campaign led by German Christian Democratic Union Party leader, Angela Merkel. The campaign says full membership for Turkey would be "irresponsible."

According to a public survey conducted in France, 75.3 percent of participants are opposed to giving Turkey full membership of Turkey. However, among young participants between the ages of 18 and 24, 65.1 percent support Turkey’s full membership. A similar study in Spain by the firm, Sigma 2, indicates that 54.6 percent of Spaniards support Turkey’s accession to the EU.