As an outsider, it's fascinating to me to watch the European Union expand and to consider the possibilities of the mostly-Asian country of Turkey being considered for membership. Read my latest article to explore the idea of Turkey becoming a member of the European Union.
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Comments
Matt,
I’m glad to see this issue addressed outside of Europe. Having lived in Austria for 11 years, I have my own 2 cents to add.
I find it very interesting that Austria seems to be the only EU country truly opposed to Turkey joining at this point. Looking back 400 years to the Turkish invasion attempts of Vienna, one can’t help wondering if that plays into it. Also, economically, many countries profit considerably right now from Turkish guest workers who work at greatly reduced wages compared to their Austrian, German, etc counterparts, even when doing the exact same work. Will the EU force these wages to be levelled? Mnay Europeans also enjoy making Turkey their vacation spot – great beaches and sightseeing possibilities in a vastly different culture, architectural space, along with very reasonable prices makes Turkey attractive.
I agree their are political concerns and religious uneasiness, but the current economic growth in Turkey may actually help the rest of the EU.
I share Tony K’s comments. I support Turkey’s entry to the EU, provided that Turkey meets all of the EU criteria. As a country with a predominantly Muslim population, Turkey will be an asset to the EU in the post 9/11 world. And speaking of geography, Cyprus, which recently joined the EU, is closer to Syria (Asia) than it is to the European continent. So I guess geography should not be the main criteria.
Just to broaden the debate about Turkey here in the UK most of the countries bordering the Mediterranean are regarded as being “in Europe”. The Post office regards all of Turkey and the States around the eastern end of the Med as European as far as charge rates are concerned. This includes Israel. Turkey has changed a lot since it became a secular state. Islam remains important but is regarded as a private matter for the individual. The further east you go in Turkey the more remote, under-developed, and Asian it becomes. The major cities in the west – Istanbul, Izmir, and Ankarra are wery much westernised now. There is an element of fear in the European Union in case Turkey turns out to be too Islamic but Islam is a major feature in many European countries now and should not be looked on with fear.
Iain Frew.
I believe that eventually all countries west of the Caspian Sea will be a part of the EU. That means the Black Sea will be entirely in Europe. Result, Turkey will not be a lonely Asian country in the EU. Note-EU is not the Estados Unidos!
Integration of Turky into the Eu is perhaps not desirable at this point in time. Europe is not yet ready for the multi-cultural society that various processes of globalization enforce on all regions of the world. Constant clashes over ‘otherness’ throughout Europe may not bode well for possible attempts to merge the vastly different socio-cultural patterns of Europe and Turkey.
As an American,I am very interested in the creation of “Europe”…”one state from many”..that is a concept to which I can relate.I have no objection whatsoever to Turkey’s admission to the EU…I would ask ,however,why Turkey is to be considered for membership when Morocco…just as close to “Europe” geographically as Turkey…was rejected on the grounds that it was not “European” in geography and ostensibly, in culture as well?
Having recently travelled through the middle east, turkey, and europe, it seemed to me that Turkey very much belongs in Europe. The general feel of the place was more European than middle eastern. And as a secular state (thanks to Ataturk) i see no reason why it would not fit in well to the European commmunity. Perhaps this may not apply so much in the very eastern part of the country, but incorporation into Europe could well change rthis, in time.
Turkey’s government still needs to change its tune about the Armenian genocide. The Turkish government has engaged in a policy of downplaying, even denying, the genocide. A change in official stand would have a great deal to do with a guarantee of human rights throughout the country.
As a comment on Raedwulf (#6), doesn’t it make sense to include Turkey and not Morrocco if Morrocco was rejected for the reasons you said? Turkey is more European in culture and geography, Morrocco is a muslim state and its territory is definitely not in europe, while it is possible to debate about the anatolia peninsula…
Backpacked through Europe and Turkey four years ago, when the Euro became common currency throughout much of the EU. Even then, there was much talk about Turkey joining the EU.
Although Turkey is muslim, as Frew(#3) noted, it is a secular state and very Westernized. In fact, it was easier for me to communicate and get around in Turkey than it was in Greece, due to the fact that Ataturk changed the written language to western style letters to make it more European. Turkey is like the Mexico of North America with relation to Canada and the US in NAFTA. I would hope that Turkey be granted admission to the EU as they could contribute greatly to the Union.
One issue that has not been discussed is whether the Turkish people (not the government) want to join the Union. In my travels, I found many of the younger people did NOT want to be in the Union, because of the same fears that the Europeans (that have not adopted the Euro)have…they did not want to lose THEIR cultural identity. So, there will be two obstacles that Turkey will have to to overcome, before it may be admitted to the EU: the EU deciding that Turkey would be a worthy partner, and the Turkish government convincing its populace that this union will be beneficial for all.
My question is: Just how far and wide does the EU want to expand? The obvious question is- Does the EU want Russia to join in the future?
Most certainly the Russian government and Russian people are not interested in joining. Yet the EU is expnasionist in its policies. What about Kazakstan? They have some land in Europe.
If the borders to Europe are not clearly defined in policy, then this leaves expansionist ambitions wide open.
how can you all say such things… Turkey has only created problems within Europe today and throughout history. The only land that is actually in Europe is Istanbul which originally belongs to Greece. Another issue is Cyprus, which Turkey attempted to take full control of it breaking international laws.
Turkey should be in the EU. The main oppostion is just that Turkey is a muslim nation and that shouldnt get in the way of it entering into the EU.
Does anyone realize that there are other aspects to this, that don’t just include cultural identity and the risk of losing it? There are so many financial reasons for them not to join the EU, for both sides. The EU will be spending MUCH more money on them, about 45 bill, than they do their largest countries. Also, Turkey isn’t going to financially further the EU, rather hold it back due to its significantly lower GDP.