By Michael Thurston - Agence France-Presse

BRUSSELS - The European Union said yesterday it remains convinced that Turkey’s future lies “in Europe,” despite a new poll showing most Europeans opposed to the vast Muslim state’s EU entry, clouded by the bloc’s constitutional crisis. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, whose country took over the EU reins this month, denied any hypocrisy in backing Turkey’s hopes, despite a pledge to heed ordinary voters’ opinions after France and the Netherlands rejected the EU Constitution.

“There’s been a strategic decision made by the European Union that Turkey’s future lies in Europe, and that our strategic interests lie in that happening,” said Straw, chairing a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

His comments came after a new Eurobarometer opinion poll indicated that 52 percent of Europeans are against offering EU membership to Turkey, with only 35 percent in favor.

Straw, whose country has been a champion of Ankara’s hopes, stressed that the EU has made it clear to Turkey that there is no guarantee of eventual EU membership.

In any case, however the negotiations proceed, “it’s widely agreed this (EU entry) would not happen for at least a decade,” he told reporters after the monthly ministerial talks.

He also underlined that EU governments will ultimately have the last say on Turkey’s hopes, as Ankara’s entry will have to be ratified by all member states, either by parliamentary vote or public referendum.

“That’s the appropriate way to discern popular opinion, so it’s not being bypassed at all,” he said.

Backers of Turkey’s hopes say notably that Ankara must be firmly tied to the EU to extend stability into the volatile region on Europe’s southeastern rim.

Critics say the country is simply too big, and too economically and culturally different, to integrate into the expanding bloc, with many calling for a “privileged partnership” with the EU rather than full entry.

Austria has been one of the most vocal opponents of Turkish EU membership, and a senior minister in Vienna said yesterday that discussions on Ankara’s hopes should be “adjourned.” “Turkey does not meet any of the criteria necessary to enter the EU — neither economic, social, nor political,” Finance Minister Karl-Heinz Grasser told the daily Standard.

Straw insisted however that the December EU decision on Turkey remains valid, and was reiterated by the bloc’s latest summit last month. “The European Council (of EU leaders) just four weeks ago made a very clear decision in confirming EU membership talks,” the British foreign secretary said.

“I fully understand that it is controversial in some parts of Europe but the conclusions are clear,” adding that there will be a “full discussion” of Turkey at an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in September.

And Straw appeared to play down the significance of the latest poll result, suggesting that changing circumstances could influence support or otherwise for EU policies. “At any one stage, opinion on any issue will vary in different member states of the EU,” he said.