Turkey's EU ambitions are looming large over Germany

Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder backs Turkish EU membership and has evolved into one of Ankara's biggest supporters in the 25-nation bloc.

"A democratic Turkey committed to European values would be clear proof that there is no contradiction between Islamic faith and an enlightened, modern society," said Schroeder last month.

The Social Democratic (SPD) chancellor underlines that making Turkey an EU member will bolster European security and aid the war on terrorism.

Schroeder also points to economic advantages of a more prosperous Turkey, with its population of almost 70 million being a huge market for German exports.

What Schroeder avoids saying - but remains a clear part of his calculation - is the growing clout of naturalised Turks as German voters.

*quote1*There are about 2.5 million ethnic Turks living in Germany which has a total population of 82 million. Of these up to 700,000 have so far become German nationals, many of them under a liberalised citizenship law passed by the Schroeder government.

With government support for Turkish EU membership and easier citizenship rights, Schroeder is clearly bidding to make his SPD the party of choice for Turkish-Germans.

The contrast between the chancellor and leaders of the opposition Christian Democratic alliance (CDU/CSU) on Turkish EU membership could not be greater.

Angela Merkel, the CDU leader who will likely challenge Schroeder in 2006, is already turning up the heat over Turkey's EU bid, which she flatly rejects.

Merkel demands that Ankara be limited to a status below full membership which she dubs "a privileged partnership".

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