BRUSSELS, Jan 10, SPA - The new chairman of theEuropean Parliament's most powerful political group said onWednesday that Turkey should not be offered full membership ofthe European Union, according to Reuters. French lawmaker Joseph Daul, a close ally of French InteriorMinister and presidential hopeful Nicolas Sarkozy, was electedon Tuesday as chairman of the European People's Party (EPP),which includes government parties from France and Germany. Daul, a member of France's ruling UMP party, said he favours"privileged partnership" rather than full membership of the27-member bloc for mainly Muslim Turkey. His views echo those of his predecessor. "Turkey is not ready for EU membership and the EU is notready to absorb Turkey. If this happens, then they both willlose," Daul told reporters. "I accept that negotiations will continue and we should havea partnership, but this should be a privileged one." This was also the view of outgoing EPP chairman Hans-GertPoettering, set to be elected president of the EuropeanParliament next week. Poettering is a key supporterof German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The EU assembly, dominated by the centre-right EPP, holdsjoint responsibility with the EU's council of member states fordeciding on a number of the Union's key policy areas, includingenlargement. Late last year the European Union partially froze Turkey'sEU accession talks, launched in October 2005, over Ankara'srefusal to open its ports to EU member Cyprus.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/417125