French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin declared Thursday that neither Europe nor Turkey are now ready for Turkey's entrance while inviting French people not to say "no" before discussion.

"Turkey today is very far from Europe in terms of its politics,economy and society," Raffarin told parliament at the start of a parliamentary debate without voting over Turkish bid for the Europe Union (EU).

"I don't think that Europe is ready for Turkey's entrance to EU.Europe has just enlarged, it should integrate its new members before thinking of another enlargement," he said.

Neither Europe nor Turkey is today ready for Turkey to join bloc, he noted.

The French parliament debate was set to highlight major arguments over Turkey's four-decade-old bid for EU, ahead of an EUsummit on December 17 at which EU leaders will decide how to act on a recommendation to open accession talks with Ankara.

French President Jacques Chirac had pronounced himself in the favor of Turkey's eventually joining the EU, and promised to put the matter to a referendum.

A newspaper poll showed earlier this week that 75 percent of French people would vote against Turkish entry in an eventual referendum.

Legislative reform, minority rights, reinforcement of secular government and gender equality all needed to be improved in Turkey,according to Raffarin.

Source: Xinhua