March 8, 2004: Wolfgang Schäuble, for many years a close political ally of former German chancellor Helmut Kohl, rejects Turkey's bid to join the European Union (EU). Schäuble's comments are noteworthy because of his status within the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) as a senior foreign policy expert. As the vice-chairman of the CDU, Schäuble accompanied party chief Angela Merkel on her trip to Turkey in mid-February to explain the CDU position to Turkish political leaders.

In an interview with the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung", Schäuble questioned whether a European identity would be possible "if the EU expands well beyond the borders of the European continent" (March 7, 2004). "What argument would Europe have against a request for membership by Russia if Turkey were a member?" Schäuble asked. "None", was his answer. "That's why I'm sticking with the proposal for a privileged partnership."

The CDU foreign policy expert believes that it is a mistake to make a decision on the Turkish request based solely on whether Turkey can meet all requirements for membership. Schäuble is convinced that the EU would no longer be able to function politically if Turkey becomes a member. He argued that even though more of Russia is arguably a part of Europe in a geographic sense than Turkey – which would make a bid by Russia for EU membership seemingly more credible – no one in Europe can visualize the EU extending all the way to Wladiwostock. In the same manner, Schäuble does not see the EU extending all the way to the border of Iran and Iraq, two countries that share a common frontier with Turkey.

Schäuble mentioned Turkey's 41 year long "associated" status with the EU and emphasized that negotiations with Turkey should not be carried out solely on the basis of achieving full membership. Schäuble's party and its sister party, Bavaria's Christian Socialist Union (CSU), believe that a "privileged partnership" for Turkey is a viable alternative and could be achieved within a few years. At their annual conventions in late 2002, both parties approved resolutions by a wide margin opposing Turkish membership.

For Schäuble, the question of Turkish membership in the EU also involves the preservation of a European identity. "We have to convince the people in Europe that they can entrust their future to the EU," Schäuble emphasized later in an interview with the "Welt am Sonntag".