The new president of the European Union, Belgian Herman Van Rompuy, is a Christian Democrat with positions against the integration of Turkey in the European Union, which raised the suspect among Turkish leadership about EU future intentions concerning Turkish admission to the EU.

In the past, in fact, Van Rompuy openly expressed his doubts about the possibility of Turkey entering the European Union. In a meeting at the Council of Europe he said that the entry of Turkey, which is a Muslim country, would weaken European fundamental values which are also the values of Christianity.¹ Moreover in 2004 he declared in an interview to the EU Observer that Turkey "is not part of Europe and never will be part of Europe".

Turkey´s reaction to Van Rompuy´s election was read as a clear will of the EU not to continue serious negotiation with Turkey as a future member of the European Union. First of all the fact that the New President refers to EU fundamental values as Christian values instead of mentioning the rule of law, human rights and civil liberties that Turkey could share, clearly closes the door to a Muslim country that do not share Christianity with the rest of EU members. Second of all, according to Dr. Mehmet Ozcan, the Head of USAK Center for EU studies France and Germany might have been the strongest country to support a president that would push forward a policy of "privileged partnership" with Turkey, which is the official French and German position on the issue.

Kiniklioglu, a member of the Turkish parliament's foreign affairs committee and the AKP's deputy chairman for external affairs, said that "His (Van Rompuy) appointment is really evidence that the Franco-German axis in the union is gaining increased strength" confirming that the choice of the Belgian Prime Minister was also particularly supported by the main EU countries because of his position concerning Turkey.

In 2004 the EU member states voted unanimously to begin accession talks with Turkey. The initial euphoria evaporated as prospects for Turkish membership when negotiations protracted and when no final date has been decided for Turkey's enter to the EU.

European politicians have blamed the slow pace of political reform in Turkey. But Turkish politicians cite European prejudice, particularly in Germany and France, against the idea of a Muslim nation joining the union. Moreover in the last year Turkey seemed to look at the east more than at Europe, maybe to search new prospective or maybe to leave old disappointments.