Copenhagen
The European Union said it would admit 10 new members on May 1, 2004—but Turkey will not be one of them. At the E.U. summit in Copenhagen this week, officials decided Turkey must wait until at least December 2004 before it can even start negotiations to join the union. The U.S., which is seeking Turkey’s aid in a possible war against Iraq, had lobbied on Turkey’s behalf, but E.U. officials said the pressure backfired. One official told the London Independent that Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen “was really annoyed at being constantly harassed.” Rasmussen reportedly said to President Bush, “If you’re so keen on Turkey in the E.U., why don’t you let Mexico join the U.S.?”
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