"Barroso: Sudden 'no' to Turkey may seem Islamophobic
Thu Oct 5, 2006 8:31am ET138
PARIS (Reuters) - European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso warned European Union countries on Thursday that a sudden refusal to let Turkey join the 25-nation bloc could make the European Union seem hostile to Islam.
Barroso's comments, published in the French weekly Le Point, follow a warning on Wednesday by EU enlargement chief Olli Rehn that advocating a 'privileged partnership' with Turkey instead of full membership weakened the EU's credibility.
Some European countries have expressed concern at the idea of the bloc taking on more members after it decided to admit Bulgaria and Romania from next year. Others have suggested a watered down membership for the poor, mainly Muslim state."
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