In a recent interview with French daily Le Télégramme, Lellouche was reminded of the fact that he was one of the few French deputies to advocate the accession of Turkey into the EU, despite Sarkozy's opposition on the same issue. He was then asked about his position as a member of the government.
“There is only one French position, defined by the president of the republic, and it is very clear: France is opposed to Turkish membership in the European Union. I recall that the negotiating mandate given in 2005 by the European Commission to provide expressly that the negotiations may lead to something other than membership,” responded Lellouche, who was appointed the country's new minister for Europe in June. “This is the line of France. It is one that I defend, and I will present to our partners as well as Turks. I myself have summed up the situation by the formula: ‘Turkey with Europe, but not in Europe,'” Lellouche added.
