April 6, 2009: U.S. President Barack Obama's support for Turkey's bid to become a member of the European Union has drawn a mixed response at this weekend's EU-USA summit in Prague. According to Obama, the United States and Europe need to take the initiative in establishing better relations with Islamic countries. Obama believes that full EU membership for Turkey would firmly anchor the country within the community of European nations and send a positive signal to other Islamic countries.

Obama's statement was not anything new for U.S. policy, since America's previous administration had also voiced support for Turkish membership in the European Union. Obama's next stop on his European trip is Turkey, and his positive comments may been timed to preface his visit and to compensate Turkey for dropping its opposition to appointing former Danish foreign minister Rasmussen as NATO's new Secretary General. Turkey had opposed Rasmussen's appointment because of his defense of the freedom of the press in the aftermath of the Mohammed cartoon uproar.

Obama's words of support drew a quick response from French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German chancellor Angela Merkel. In an interview French radio station TF1, Sarkozy emphasized his opposition: "I have always been against membership [for Turkey]. I still am, and I can say that a large majority of member countries share France's position."

Merkel agreed with President Obama on the importance of good relations with Islamic countries. However, the German chancellor sees Turkey's future with the EU as being undecided. According to Merkel, the question is whether full membership or a "privileged partnership" would be the better option for Turkey's future relationship with the European Union.

At a meeting of EU foreign ministers held just one week prior to the EU-USA summit, France and Germany also voiced their opposition to admitting any new members to the EU unless the proposed treaty of Lisbon is approved. According to German government officials, the ability of the EU to function is already questionable with its 27 members and the existing single nation veto right for major decisions. The French and German position means that the next candidate for EU membership, Croatia, will have to wait until the EU decision-making process is streamlined by a new agreement – either the Lisbon treaty or some other arrangement.