France Calls on EU to Rigid Position on Turkey

France is pushing the European Union to take a tougher line on human rights in accession negotiations with Turkey, in a move the European Commission fears will damage relations with Ankara. EU leaders are also facing calls from Paris to thrash out a new, more rigorous strategy for enlargement – an issue that foreign ministers will discuss at a summit. The French initiatives deepen the Commission’s concerns that Paris and its allies are seeking to frustrate Turkey’s bid for membership a mere six months after the EU agreed to begin the accession process.