Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Germany's election doesn't bode will for Turkey's EU hopes | The Call

"Germany's election doesn't bode will for Turkey's EU hopes
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 4:05pm

By Eurasia Group analysts Irmak Bademli and Wolfango Piccoli

Turkey's ailing bid for EU membership will face greater difficulties following the win of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) in Germany's recent elections. The FDP's replacement of the pro-Turkey Social Democratic Party (SPD) will allow Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has long favored a 'privileged partnership' rather than full membership for Turkey, to become more vocal in her opposition to Ankara's EU entry. Meanwhile, Cyprus remains a major obstacle in Turkey's path to EU membership."

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