"Eye on Europe: Turkey`s PR battle
Sep 27, 2005, 14:24 GMT
BRUSSELS, Belgium (UPI) -- After the rejection of the European Union`s first-ever constitution by French and Dutch voters over the summer, reconnecting with Europe`s grumpy, fearful and disillusioned electorate has become the No. 1 goal of the Brussels-based bloc. Yet on Monday, barring any last-minute hiccups, the Union is set to open membership talks with Turkey, a move flatly opposed by most EU citizens.
According to a recent opinion poll carried out by the European Commission, 52 percent of Europeans are averse to Turkey joining the club, with only 35 percent in favor. In some of the EU`s core countries, opposition is even more entrenched -- 70 percent of French voters and almost three quarters of Germans are against Ankara`s membership bid."
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