Political relations between France and Turkey have been weathering a crisis after the adoption of a law on 18 January 2001 on the Armenian genocide, but since 2003 both sides have demonstrated a desire to re-establish a deeper dialogue. Following the EU-Turkey Customs Union starting in 1996, trade figures between France and Turkey were boosted by two and a half fold during the ensuing five years, reaching 5,8 billion $ in 2000, and with France registering a clear surplus. Turkey became France's third largest trade partner outside the EU and France became Turkey's third largest partner overall. France's National Assembly last October approved a socialist-drafted proposal which stated that those denying the genocide should be punished by one year in prison and pay a fine of €45,000. In order to come into force, the bill would have had to be approved by the country's senate where the current centre-right government of Dominique de Villepin and President Jacques Chirac - both opposing the bill - holds a majority. Turkish authorities have strongly criticized the adoption of the bill in France’s lower house.
Burning issues
French presidential elections
As the president has important powers in the French political system, the winner of the presidential elections this May is important for Franco-Turkish relations. Nicolas Sarkozy, the conservative candidate for France's elections in 2007 is firmly opposed to Turkish membership to the EU. The other prominent candidate, Ségolène Royal seems to be more open to Turkey’s EU bid.
