Washington bezorgd over Europese crisis (en)

The US is concerned about the effects of the current political crisis on further enlargement of the EU.

The news came after a meeting on Tuesday (7 June) between German foreign minister Joschka Fischer and US chief security advisor Stephen Hadley.

According to Mr Fischer, Washington is worried that the paralysis following the double rejection of the EU constitution in France and the Netherlands last week could affect Turkey's membership bid and the bloc's engagement in the Balkans.

There is great concern that the stabilising effect of the EU on the Balkans could decrease and that there could be set-backs on the issue of Turkey coming closer [to the bloc], said Mr Fischer, according to Spiegel Online.

Speaking specifically about the Balkans, the German minister said "Europe cannot afford to take time out from its obligations on the world stage".

He added that the whole strategy in the Balkans is based on having a European perspective as an "anchor" - and that applies to Romania and Bulgaria as well.

The comments come as speculation increases about the possible effects of the double rejection of the EU constitution in France and the Netherlands last week.

Washington has never made a secret about its support for Turkey joining the EU, but part of the reason for rejection of the constitution, in France particularly, was due to fears about Turkey's eventual membership,

The issue may also come up when Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan meets US president George W. Bush on Wednesday (8 June).

The visit comes hot on the heels of a visit by British prime minister Tony Blair to the US over the last days.

Publicly, there has been very little public reaction in the US to the fate of the constitution but there are fears in Washington that the bloc will turn in on itself, a point taken up by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice earlier this week.

During a visit to Europe earlier this year, President Bush made a point of stressing that he supported the bloc's plans for a constitution and supported a strong, united Europe.