Tokom svoje izborne kampanje, Sarkozy se čvrsto protivio članstvu Turske u EU i zagovarao mogućnost specijalnog partnerskog odnosa s Turskom u okviru Mediteranske unije, koja bi obuhvatala evropske, bliskoistočne i zemlje u sjevernoj Africi koje izlaze na Mediteran.
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.