During his election campaign, Sarkozy staunchly opposed Turkey's EU membership and advocated a special partnership with Turkey within a Mediterranean Union that would include countries along the Mediterranean rim in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
Tijekom predizborne kampanje, Sarkozy se čvrsto protivio članstvu Turske u EU i zalagao za posebno partnerstvo s Turskom u okviru Mediteranske unije koja bi uključivala zemlje duž mediteranske obale u Europi, na Bliskom istoku i u Sjevernoj Africi.