France rejects Turkish EU membership referendum proposal

24/06/2008

PARIS, France -- Parliament's upper house, the Senate, rejected an institutional reform draft Monday (June 23rd) aimed at introducing a referendum on Turkey's EU membership. The lower house approved the measure in late May. Senators, however, criticised it as "abusive" and "discriminatory" towards an "an ally and a friend" of France. President Nicolas Sarkozy opposes Turkey's EU membership, claiming that the country is not located in Europe. Instead of full membership, he backs a "privileged partnership" status for Turkey. Ankara insists on full accession. (Hurriyet - 24/06/08; AFP - 23/06/08)