Verheugen waarschuwt voor gevaarlijke spiraal in kwestie Turkije (en)

The EU's former enlargement commissioner has warned the bloc not to turn its back on Turkey, saying a "dangerous spiral" of negative signals could undermine the key geo-strategic goal of future Turkish membership.

Guenter Verheugen i, who ran the commission's enlargement department from 1999-2004 and currently holds Brussels' industry portfolio, over the weekend made a strong plea in favour of Turkey in remarks explained by German media as going against the stance of German chancellor Angela Merkel.

"Europe is sending Turkey almost exclusively negative signals," he told German weekly Bild am Sonntag. "We are focusing on the weaknesses of the country, while not encouraging them to change. This is causing a growing reluctance to pursue the reforms we are asking for. This in turn leads Europe to the view that the Turks are not managing it." "This is a dangerous spiral that threatens to lead to a geopolitical failure of the highest order."

The remarks come after Mrs Merkel during a visit to Turkey on Friday (6 October) said that only at the end of the talks will it be decided "what the result is," indicating that full membership as an outcome is not ensured. The chancellor's Turkey trip has sparked disagreement in the governing coalition in Germany, with the conservatives reiterating that they are against fully-fledged membership.

Conservative CDU party leader Ronald Pofalla said that he believes Turkish accession is "not defendable and wrong" and repeated the alternative of a "privileged partnership" for Ankara. But Mr Verheugen, himself a German social democrat, was backed by other German centre-left politicians who said dropping the goal of membership would be a "terrible mistake."