The European Common Market was formed as a way to keep the Anglo Saxons out of “Continental Europe”. “Le Manche” or the “British Channel” was not wide enough, nor deep enough to keep the Saxons out. France led the efforts and Britian was kept out for decades by De Gaulle. Britian formed its own “Outer Eight” and tried to put life into the Commonwealth, but all failed to emulate the success of the French-German enterprise which eventually evolved into the borderless EU with a common currency and customs union sans trade barriers and tariffs.

During the cold war the EU was pretty much a NATO led alliance. After the destruciton of the USSR, the EU was expanded to contain Russia and keep it out of “Continental Europe”. In the post cold war era, France once again wants to keep “Continental Europe” separate from the Bosphorus.

Turkey is now facing the same issues as Britain and Russia which for a long time were not accepted as part of Europe.

Turkey has been trying to trying to get into the exclusive Christian club called “The European Union.” Turkish claim to the EU is based upon the Ottoman presence in much of Europe. The ottoman empire extended into much of Europe. At one time the Turks controlled Athens, the Balkans and even much of Eastern Europe. Turkish armies knocked on the doors of Vienna. Bosnian, Albanian, Chechnian, Dagistani Muslims owe their existence to the Turks.

In the past few years, there has been much discussion of denying Turkey membership into the European Union because Turkey was a Muslim country. This fear of Turkish Muslims goes back to Martin Luther’s ramblings about the Turks.

Recently, Mr. Srakozy the new leader of France came up with a new plan to keep Turkey out of Europe. He suggested that Mediterranean countries could form their own Custom’s Union and have an affiliate relationship with Europe which would remain a Christian club.

Egypt is heralded as a leader of this diverse group of countries in what Sarkozy describes as “the Southern Mediterranean .”

Where do Turkey and Israel stand in this new setup? Sarkozy who has a Jewish background has suggested an Israeli membership into the EU and an affiliate membership of Turkey for the EU.

France says Egypt could head part of new Med Union

BERLIN: Egypt could lead southern states in the new Union for the Mediterranean, which France plans to launch in July, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said on Sunday. French President Nicolas Sarkozy was forced to scale back plans for a full EU-style ‘Mediterranean Union’ after fierce German resistance and wants to launch the new grouping of 27 EU countries and their southern neighbours in Paris in July. Kouchner said that the new grouping would have two presidencies – one for the northern and one for the southern states of the Mediterranean. “As to what concerns the southern Mediterranean countries, a lot is speaking for Egypt,” he told Germany’s Deutschlandfunk radio in an interview.

Asked whether Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak would be a suitable leader, he said, “Of course he would be a possible leader for the Union for a Mediterranean, together with a representative from northern Mediterranean countries. That could possibly be France, but there will be rotation.” Kouchner said the seat of the grouping’s secretariat was still under discussion, adding, “I was in Morocco not long ago. Mubarak was in France. reuters