Stockholm - France remains opposed to Turkey becoming a
full member of the European Union, French President Nicolas Sarkozy
said Friday during a visit to Stockholm.
Sarkozy was the first head of state to be hosted by Prime Minister
Fredrik Reinfeldt since Sweden on Wednesday assumed the rotating
presidency of the EU.
Turkey began EU accession talks in 2005, but France and Germany,
in particular, are strongly against the idea of letting it into the
27-member bloc, proposing a 'privileged partnership' instead.
Talks have begun on 11 out of 35 'chapters,' or negotiating
subjects, with Turkey. Earlier this week, the EU opened talks on
bringing Turkey's tax laws into line with those of the bloc.
Sarkozy said that France was 'not against opening up new chapters'
with Ankara, and that Turkey remains 'a bridge between east and
west.'
Sweden has made itself known as a supporter of enlargement, and
will have to accommodate different views within the EU.
Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt has said openly that Sweden
would push for Turkey's full membership of the EU.
Sarkozy and Reinfeldt said they also discussed the re-election of
Jose Manuel Barroso as head of the executive European Commission.
Barroso - recently endorsed by heads of European governments - is
seeking a second term but needs approval from the freshly-elected
European Parliament.
It appeared unlikely Barroso would be elected by September,
Reinfeldt and Sarkozy said.
Reinfeldt was next week to meet with leaders of different factions
from the European Parliament.
The two leaders also discussed Iran and the response to the
detention of British embassy staff in Tehran.
Other topics raised during their talks concerned the need to
coordinate the EU to achieve a new treaty on reducing greenhouse gas
emissions at a UN conference in Copenhagen in December, and tackling
the fallout from the financial crisis.
Sarkozy said he would offer full support for the Swedish EU
presidency.
The French president also met with King Carl XVI Gustaf and told
reporters he planned to visit Sweden again next year.
USA
Your Talkback on this Story