After our difficult time in Iran we decided it was time to explore another country. So we packed our bags and steered course for Turkey. After a long journey we finally arrived and the first thing we realized was that Turkey still isn’t a country of the EU. But why is it that Turkey still hasn’t joined? Doesn’t Turkey want to join? Or are there other reasons?
The opinions about Turkey joining the EU are various. Turkey wants to join for a long time there are some problems.
To start with the EU has laid out certain principles if a country wants to join the EU. Turkey has looked at those principles and on the basis of these principles they said ‘All right , we want to become part of your club”. But now in the middle of the ‘soccer game’ the EU is changing the penalty rules.
To start with the EU has laid out certain principles if a country wants to join the EU. Turkey has looked at those principles and on the basis of these principles they said ‘All right , we want to become part of your club”. But now in the middle of the ‘soccer game’ the EU is changing the penalty rules.
Mr. Erdogan’s (the Turkish prime minister) Justice and Development Party (AKP) made joining the EU a top priority and opened accession talks in December 2004. But the effort stalled even as Turkey implemented democratic reforms and saw unprecedented economic growth.
Now Turkey is fully integrated into the European society , economy , politics even in a general sense of foreign policy. Turkey namely has a membership in a range of European institutions as well as trade with Europe that exceeds half of Turkeys total. So in theory there’s no more problem for Turkey to join the EU.
Now Turkey is fully integrated into the European society , economy , politics even in a general sense of foreign policy. Turkey namely has a membership in a range of European institutions as well as trade with Europe that exceeds half of Turkeys total. So in theory there’s no more problem for Turkey to join the EU.
But another problem is that inside Europe, the notion of an increasingly religious Muslim nation joining a club of secular countries with Christian roots has ignited fierce debates about European identity at a time when many EU member states are struggling to integrate growing Muslim minorities. So The fact that Turkey is improving their relations with Muslim countries and particularly with the bad guys of the Middle East also doesn’t help the situation.
Moreover opponents of Ankara’s bid note that if demographic trends persist, Turkey would soon overtake Germany as the most populous EU member.
Moreover opponents of Ankara’s bid note that if demographic trends persist, Turkey would soon overtake Germany as the most populous EU member.
So it isn’t as easy as it seems . An accession to the EU requires the 27-member body’s unanimous approval , which gives veto power to small nations such as Cyprus. The leaders of Britain , Italy and Spain all support Turkey’s entry. But other powers like France and Germany have proposed a “privileged partnership” instead.Turkey rejects the idea of France and Germany and says that the EU will have to choose either for full membership or full rejection. There’s no in between.
Turkey’s response to these problems is: “It will not be the end of the world for us if we are not accepted into the EU , but if Europe becomes and intolerant continent it will be Europe that will lose in the end.”
It’s clear that the last word about this situation hasn’t been said. Turkey really tries to come up to the expectations in order to join the EU but the religion and political situation of the country makes it very difficult to decide.
In my opinion they should give Turkey a chance. It’s a developing country with a strong economy and it would strengthen the position of the EU. If there are clear rules , the fact that Turkey isn’t a Christian country shouldn’t be a problem. We now live in a world of diversity so multicultural countries are in my opinion the future.
All countries should realize that we only have one world and one life , so we’d better work together in order to create a win-win situation instead of making problems .
It’s clear that the last word about this situation hasn’t been said. Turkey really tries to come up to the expectations in order to join the EU but the religion and political situation of the country makes it very difficult to decide.
In my opinion they should give Turkey a chance. It’s a developing country with a strong economy and it would strengthen the position of the EU. If there are clear rules , the fact that Turkey isn’t a Christian country shouldn’t be a problem. We now live in a world of diversity so multicultural countries are in my opinion the future.
All countries should realize that we only have one world and one life , so we’d better work together in order to create a win-win situation instead of making problems .
Greetings,
Nelson
Source: The Washington Times by Ben Birnbaum - Sunday, January 30, 2011
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