German parties say EU may not be able to let Turkey join

[dipsydoodle]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - The European Union may not be able to accept Turkey as a member, German parties negotiating a coalition government have said, while making clear the EU's "privileged relationship" with Ankara should be developed further.

In a paper on foreign policy, Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) describe EU membership talks with Turkey as "open-ended". A coalition panel led by Merkel is expected approve the paper on Tuesday.

The wording is slightly tougher than the language in a 2005 coalition contract between the parties. That document, put together shortly after EU membership talks with Turkey began, said Germany had a "special interest" in deepening ties with Turkey and linking it to the EU, without explicitly supporting or rejecting full membership.

Since then, public support in Turkey for joining the EU has slumped and German doubts about Ankara's candidacy have grown, following the Turkish government's crackdown on protests earlier this year.

Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/11/19/uk-germany-coalition-turkey-idUKBRE9AI0ME20131119

[Comrade Grumpy]

1. I wonder when the Turks are going to get tired of being snubbed by the EU.

And where they turn then.

[geek tragedy]

2. Maybe they could turn towards actually earning a place in the

EU by improving their human rights record and rejecting theocracy. Oh, and admit that the Armenian genocide happened.