Niinistö sceptical over rapid Turkish EU membership
Sauli Niinistö
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European Investment Bank Vice President Sauli Niinistö, who is the only candidate seeking the nomination of the National Coalition Party in next year’s Presidential elections, does not think that Turkish membership in the European Union can take place within any timetable that has been put forward.
France plans to hold a referendum on the issue of EU enlargement, and Niinistö believes that other countries will follow suit.
Niinistö was speaking at a gathering of the leaders of the party and its Parliamentary group.
"We must give consideration to the fact that Europeans do not necessarily like enlargement. I believe that enlargements that come after Bulgaria, Romania, and Croatia will be very painful", he said.
The best solution for the Turkish question in Niinistö’s view is for Turkey to be kept as a close partner, and that it would be encouraged to enact all necessary reforms.
"It is also in Turkey’s interest. It would be very problematic from the point of view of the EU if Turkey were to be disappointed by the way the EU moves forward".
Niinistö also laments the scrapping of the idea of a stage-by-stage membership process. He says that the European Economic Area was a good model in its time, and that it could be an option of sorts before full membership.
Membership talks are to begin on October 3rd, but actual membership could still take years.
Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn has estimated that it might take between 10 and 15 years before Turkey is ready for EU membership.
Former National Coalition Party Chairman, MEP Ville Itälä, wrote in Helsingin Sanomat on Sunday that taking Turkey as a member state would be an act of Napoleonic megalomania on the part of the EU.
Itälä feels that Turkish EU membership would bring border security risks.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 17.8.2005 - TODAY |
 Niinistö sceptical over rapid Turkish EU membership |
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