Jean Portante supports Turkey's EU accession

The Luxemburg writer Jean Portante, a regular chronicler in the weekly, finds it unacceptable that Turkey should have to pay for the current EU crisis. "The European flag is at half-mast within the Union, as if its new members  were mourning its past fervour for Europe, whereas not so long ago the EU was synonymous with an ocean of hope. The thing is that most of them had been part of something that, even in their wildest dreams, they did not think they would ever be free of. The implosion of the Soviet empire led to desires which, today, no longer have wind in their sails. And yet it is because Turks do not want to fall prey to the radical Islamism looming large on its doorstep that they are dreaming of our Europe and our European values. We are for Turkey what we were previously for Poland and Hungary: the means of escaping an undesired domination. This is why, strategically speaking, Turkey's place is within the EU."

» to the homepage (external link, Le Jeudi)
More from the press review on the subject » EU enlargement, » Europe, » Turkey
All available articles from » Jean Portante

» To the complete press review of Friday, March 9, 2007