France raises question of link between enlarging and deepening the EU - Angela Merkel: Negotiating Turkish accession is “irresponsible”

Brussels, 16/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - Although the Luxembourg Presidency hopes to avoid a further substantial debate on the enlargement of the EU and the European Council this Thursday and Friday (EUROPE 8967), the French Prime Minister, Dominique de Villepin, told the National Assembly on Wednesday that the French no to the Constitution should lead the EU to "open a reflection on the modalities for future waves of enlargement". "Although the speed with which enlargement took place answered a genuine historical imperative", it also "affected many" French people. "This is the sentiment which was expressed on 29 May. We must take account of this", he stressed. Without specifically referring to the two official candidates, which have yet to start their accession negotiations (Turkey and Croatia), the Prime Minister nonetheless stressed that "the commitments we have taken towards Bulgaria and Romania will be kept, whilst making absolutely sure that the criteria laid down are being adhered to". "But beyond that, we certainly ought to undertake a reflection with our partners, in full respect of our commitments, on the modalities for future waves of enlargement", he said. "Until we have institutions which are adapted to the task of making an enlarged Europe work, we must address ourselves to the question of the link between enlargement and deepening", Dominique de Villepin stressed, adding that "it was up to the Europeans to get together and learn lessons over the next few months".

Speaking in Berlin in the meantime, Angela Merkel, the CDU's candidate to the Chancellorship in the elections to the Bundestag planned for next September, told the Parliament's debate on the summit: "it would be entirely irresponsible to negotiate with Turkey over 10 years, keeping up their hopes of full and entire accession, whilst knowing all along that there will never be a majority for such a decision in the countries which are planning [to put the question to] referendums (...). It is an (...) irresponsible policy, which we will refuse to accept".