France remains one of consistent opponents to Turkey's EU bid
With a vote 297 to7, France's Senate has dropped a measure from a proposed law that requires a referendum on Turkey's membership in the European Union.
Ankara welcomed the decision by the French parliamentarians, who explained that the law adopted in May 2008 was discriminative as regards "friendly Turkey". Nevertheless, France remains one of consistent opponents to Turkey's EU bid. Majority of the population and establishment are skeptical about sharing the Union with Turkey.
The measure has been one of the most sensitive parts of a broader institutional reform package going through the French Parliament.
The measure would require a referendum before France could approve EU membership for any country whose population exceeds 5 percent of the population of the entire 27-nation union.
It is seen as primarily targeting Turkey. Such a condition has never before been imposed on an EU candidate.
The Senate voted early Tuesday to remove the referendum requirement. But it could still be revived when the bill goes for a second reading in both houses of Parliament, the AP reports.
Brussels is concerned about the situation in Cyprus, the PKK problem and absence of progress in the Armenia-Turkish relations, since the Turkish government links reconciliation with unacceptable conditions for Armenia: to stop the process of international recognition of the Armenian Genocide and to resolve the Karabakh issue in favor of Azerbaijan, according to utro.ru.
Ankara welcomed the decision by the French parliamentarians, who explained that the law adopted in May 2008 was discriminative as regards "friendly Turkey". Nevertheless, France remains one of consistent opponents to Turkey's EU bid. Majority of the population and establishment are skeptical about sharing the Union with Turkey.
The measure has been one of the most sensitive parts of a broader institutional reform package going through the French Parliament.
The measure would require a referendum before France could approve EU membership for any country whose population exceeds 5 percent of the population of the entire 27-nation union.
It is seen as primarily targeting Turkey. Such a condition has never before been imposed on an EU candidate.
The Senate voted early Tuesday to remove the referendum requirement. But it could still be revived when the bill goes for a second reading in both houses of Parliament, the AP reports.
Brussels is concerned about the situation in Cyprus, the PKK problem and absence of progress in the Armenia-Turkish relations, since the Turkish government links reconciliation with unacceptable conditions for Armenia: to stop the process of international recognition of the Armenian Genocide and to resolve the Karabakh issue in favor of Azerbaijan, according to utro.ru.
