Med Union not alternative for Turkey's EU aim

French Secretary of State for European Affairs Jean-Pierre Jouyet sought on Wednesday to assure Turkey that the plan, spearheaded by France, to establish a Mediterranean Union was not a "trap" to delude the country's EU membership prospect.   Â

"I would like to put it very clearly: the Mediterranean Union is a European project. It is not a substitute or an alternative for Turkey's relations with the EU," Jouyet told a televised interview on private Turkish news channel NTV.

The Mediterranean Union project is an attempt to boost an action and development plan for the European Union, known as the Lisbon Strategy, Jouyet said.

"It is important that Turkey takes part in this project," Jouyet added.

The state secretary said the French term presidency of the EU would be impartial, fair and balanced on Turkey's accession bid, adding France will not create any obstacles in the negotiations process with Turkey.

Turkey expects the French EU presidency would "smoothly continue" Turkey's talks, Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan told on Tuesday in a press conference after meeting with his French counterpart in Ankara.

Babacan also said Ankara has not yet decided whether to participate in the project, but added the evaluations regarding the issue were ongoing in a positive direction.

The EU leaders approved in March a French plan for a Mediterranean Union aimed at strengthening cooperation with countries from Morocco to Turkey. The project is to be officially launched at a summit of European and Mediterranean leaders in Paris in July.

 Photo: AA