Let Turkey join European Union
Oct 03, 2005
AUSTRIA has been blocking attempts by Turkey to open formal negotiations to join the European Union. Although the other 24 EU members do not object, Austria believes that Turkey should be offered a ‘privileged partnership’ rather than eventual full membership.
AUSTRIA has been blocking attempts by Turkey to open formal negotiations to join the European Union. Although the other 24 EU members do not object, Austria believes that Turkey should be offered a ‘privileged partnership’ rather than eventual full membership.
Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Erdogan is insisting that there is no point in Turkey negotiating for something short of full membership. Turkey has already made multiple changes in its political and legal systems and would be expected to make many more over the next 10 years.
Many Europeans have reservations about Turkish membership. They fear that Turkey’s 70 million population could flood the labour market while others like former French president Giscard d’Estaing believe that an Islamic state is not culturally compatible with the European Union.
These fears are misplaced. It is difficult for workers to migrate unless they have special skills and speak other languages. Moreover the Turkish economy is booming and Turks may find more economic opportunities at home than abroad. And the accession of Turkey would greatly expand the EU common market.
Culturally, Turkey may be Islamic but it is also European. Istanbul was formerly Constantinople, the eastern capital of the Roman empire that kept European civilisation alive throughout the Dark Ages. It is true that the Bosphorus bridges Europe and Asia, and that Ottoman armies reached the gates of Vienna in the seventeenth century. But the key point is that the histories of Turkey and Europe have been interlinked for millennia. It would not be a cultural contradiction for Turkey to join the EU.
Europe now has a historic opportunity to expand still further, to spread its values of democracy and development further afield.
The 24 member states should not allow the narrow prejudices of one member to block this historic advance. Turkey should be allowed to formally enter into negotiations for membership of the EU.
Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Erdogan is insisting that there is no point in Turkey negotiating for something short of full membership. Turkey has already made multiple changes in its political and legal systems and would be expected to make many more over the next 10 years.
Many Europeans have reservations about Turkish membership. They fear that Turkey’s 70 million population could flood the labour market while others like former French president Giscard d’Estaing believe that an Islamic state is not culturally compatible with the European Union.
These fears are misplaced. It is difficult for workers to migrate unless they have special skills and speak other languages. Moreover the Turkish economy is booming and Turks may find more economic opportunities at home than abroad. And the accession of Turkey would greatly expand the EU common market.
Culturally, Turkey may be Islamic but it is also European. Istanbul was formerly Constantinople, the eastern capital of the Roman empire that kept European civilisation alive throughout the Dark Ages. It is true that the Bosphorus bridges Europe and Asia, and that Ottoman armies reached the gates of Vienna in the seventeenth century. But the key point is that the histories of Turkey and Europe have been interlinked for millennia. It would not be a cultural contradiction for Turkey to join the EU.
Europe now has a historic opportunity to expand still further, to spread its values of democracy and development further afield.
The 24 member states should not allow the narrow prejudices of one member to block this historic advance. Turkey should be allowed to formally enter into negotiations for membership of the EU.