French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin opened a parliamentary debate on 14 October 2004 by declaring that neither the European Union nor Türkiye was prepared for Türkiye's accession, while acknowledging that Ankara's membership ambition was not without merit. The debate carried no vote, a decision that drew criticism from many legislators and reflected the sharp divisions the issue has exposed across France.
President Jacques Chirac supports Türkiye eventually joining the bloc but has promised French voters a referendum on the question, noting that France retains veto power at any stage of negotiations. Opinion polling published earlier that week showed 75 percent of respondents would vote against Türkiye's entry.
Within Chirac's own ruling party, several ministers publicly oppose admitting a predominantly Muslim and comparatively less wealthy nation. The main opposition Socialist party is equally split. François Bayrou of the Union for French Democracy argued that a privileged partnership, rather than full membership, would be the wiser course.
Raffarin also noted that the EU still needed to absorb the 10 countries, many from eastern Europe, that joined in May 2004. The debate preceded an EU summit set for 17 December, at which leaders were to consider opening formal accession talks with Ankara.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this AFP wire report, first published in October 2004, in its own words.