Verheugen criticizes "privileged partnership" proposals as deceitful populism

The European Union's Turkey policy suffers from a lack of clarity and credibility, Guenter Verheugen, the outgoing vice president of the European Commission, said yesterday. Stating that the EU needs Turkey more than Turkey needs the Union, Verheugen, a former commissioner for enlargement, criticized Germany and France's proposal of so-called "privileged partnership" for Turkey in lieu of full membership as deceitful populism. "Paris and Berlin never answer the question of what they can give Turkey in return for full EU membership," he added.