"US concerned about EU crisis
08.06.2005 - 09:19 CET | By Honor Mahony
The US is concerned about the effects of the current political crisis on further enlargement of the EU.
The news came after a meeting on Tuesday (7 June) between German foreign minister Joschka Fischer and US chief security advisor Stephen Hadley.
According to Mr Fischer, Washington is worried that the paralysis following the double rejection of the EU constitution in France and the Netherlands last week could affect Turkey's membership bid and the bloc's engagement in the Balkans.
There is great concern that the stabilising effect of the EU on the Balkans could decrease and that there could be set-backs on the issue of Turkey coming closer [to the bloc], said Mr Fischer, according to Spiegel Online.
Speaking specifically about the Balkans, the German minister said 'Europe cannot afford to take time out from its obligations on the world stage'."
More:EUobserver.com-US concerned about EU crisis
