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Most want Turkey to stay out of the EU, poll shows
The poll, carried out by the European Commission, found that 52 per cent of Europeans are opposed to Turkish membership and only 35 per cent are in favour. In ten of the fifteen pre-enlargement member states there is a majority against Turkey, with opposition running as high as 80 per cent.
The survey is embarrassing for Britain, which has championed Turkish membership while lecturing other governments on the need to reconnect with public opinion after the recent EU constitution referendum defeats in France and the Netherlands. Britain, as president of the Union, will chair entry talks with Turkey, which are scheduled to start on October 3.
In Austria, opponents of Turkey’s membership out-number supporters 80 per cent to 10 per cent. Opposition is 74 per cent in Germany, 72 per cent in Luxembourg and 70 per cent in France and Greece. More people are opposed to Turkey joining than to any other potential member. In Britain, a relative majority is in favour, with 45 per cent for and 37 per cent against.
The high level of opposition in France and Germany makes it more likely that Angela Merkel, who is expected to be the next Chancellor of Germany, and Nicolas Sarkozy, who is expected to be the next President of France, will stand firm against Turkish entry.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article545446.ece
Edited (4/1/2009) by tamikidakika
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