Does the Spanish government support the expansion of the Eurpoean
Union towards Romainia, Bulgaria and Turkey?

Hello rkreitzer

The Spanish government, led by Prime Minister Jose Zapatero, supports
plans for Bulgaria and Romania to join the European Union, probably in
2007.

Zapatero also supports Turkey's interest in joining the EU, although
there is no certainty about this plan and no proposed date for it.


"They [Germany, France, and Spain] also discussed the candidacies of
Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Turkey for European Union membership,
which all three support . . ."
http://www.bundesregierung.de/en/News-by-subject/Europe/News-,10982.714032/artikel/Old-Europe-as-good-as-new.htm


"Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said on Thursday
his country would help Bulgaria meet the EU requirements . . "
http://www.southeasteurope.org/subpage.php?sub_site=2&id=12829&head=if&site=3


". . . the consistent support granted by Madrid in the unfolding of
the last stage of the accession process of Romania to the EU."
http://www.guv.ro/engleza/presa/afis-doc.php?idpresa=2375&idrubricapresa=1&idrubricaprimm=&idtema=&tip=2&pag=1&dr=


"Bulgarian and Romanian officials . . . welcomed a European Commission
report confirming that both countries were on course to join the
European Union in January 2007."
http://www.eubusiness.com/afp/041006152731.pygz1n2w


"Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero says he supports
Turkey's eventual membership in the European Union but noted that it
will take a long time. Zapatero, speaking to German magazine Der
Spiegel, says Turks seek to become European citizens; however, their
integration into Europe is a long-term undertaking. "The European
identity is the concept of a citizens' community based on the values
of enlightenment and rationalism," notes Zapatero."
http://www.tdn1.com/FrProbe/latest/dom2.htm

"Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero said that Turkey should become a full
fledged EU member, the Anadol agency announced. ?Turkish people want
to become citizens of Europe as well?, Zapatero said."
http://www.focus-fen.net/index.php?catid=127&newsid=52212&ch=0&PHPSESSID=e387369325420ad21c8f9a05aa673668


I hope this gives you all the information you need, but please feel
free to ask if you would like me to clarify something.

Best wishes - Leli



search terms used:

Zapatero, "Spanish government"
enlargement, accession
eu, "european union"
Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey

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Request for Answer Clarification by rkreitzer-ga on 28 Nov 2004 07:40 PST

i couldn't find any reference to spain at all in the
<<<www.tdnl.com/FrProbe/latest/dom2.htm>>>.  i may have just missed
it, where exactly was this information located?  thanks for your help

rkreitzer

---

Clarification of Answer by leli-ga on 28 Nov 2004 10:54 PST

The piece has been moved into the Turkish Daily News archives.
Here's a link that should work. 
http://www.tdn1.com/old_editions/11_14_04/dom2.htm
(Scroll down to October 7)

I also found this news story while I was searching:

"Spain is among those EU states backing Turkish membership of the EU.
Proponents of Turkey say Turkish membership would help Europe boost
its influence in the Muslim world by providing a bridge to the East."
http://www.tdn1.com/old_editions/10_19_04/for.htm#f5

Let me know if you have any further problems with the Turkish Daily News site.

Leli

Thank you very much.  Your answer was very helpful.