(149) Turkey Arguably Turkey represents the EU’s biggest challenge. Much debate has already occurred over whether the Union should integrate a country with a predominantly Muslim population, especially as public opinion across the EU is fiercely divided over this issue. Moreover, Turkey’s population of 70 million would make it the EU’s second most populous member state with significant voting powers in the Council of Ministers. Given Turkey’s low prosperity levels-around 25 percent of the average EU level and similar to that of Bulgaria and Romania-the possibility of considerable migratory movements to Northern and Western Europe was also causing concern in some member states. For these reasons, Turkey’s application has repeatedly been put on hold, although it had applied for membership as early as 1987. In November 2002, however, with the election of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s application was reevaluated. Two years later the Commission issued a positive report confirming that the country met the political criteria and suggested that accession negotiations should commence in the fall of 2005. Nonetheless the Commission delivered a number of warning shots, stressing that “accession cannot take place before 2014, and that it must be thoroughly prepared to allow for smooth integration and to avoid endangering the achievements of over fifty years of European integration.” More specifically, the Commission demanded an annual review of the progress of political reforms in Turkey and would recommend suspending negotiations if any principles of the political criteria were seriously and persistently breached. Relations between the EU and Turkey were further strained by the continuous controversy over Cyprus. Ankara has refused to give diplomatic recognition to the Republic of Cyprus, though it is an EU member, and has closed off all its ports and airports to goods and people from that part of the island. EU member states argued, however, that progress in Turkey’s path toward Europe could only be achieved if the Turkish government reversed its position. In fact, the EU, led by the Finnish Presidency, even threatened to suspend negotiations should Ankara refuse to give in. In the end a last-minute compromise was reached at the EU summit in December 2006, with Turkey opening at least one port to the Greek-Cypriot–led Republic. Negotiations so far have been painfully slow. As of November 2009 eleven chapters have been opened with only one (the rather thin Science and Research) provisionally closed. In its annual report the Commission, in 2009, stated that “significant further efforts are needed in most areas related to the political criteria, in particular fundamental rights.” Further points of criticism were corruption; the lack of a modernized, transparent, and merit-based civil service; gender equality; and women’s rights. Turkish law also did not sufficiently guarantee freedom of expression in line with the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR). Clearly the country has to undergo major social, economic, and political transformations before EU accession can even be considered. Therefore, in view of Turkey’s size, relative economic backwardness, and the painstaking and time-consuming efforts to reform society and politics, an accession date of 2014, which has been suggested, seems hopelessly optimistic. And even if Turkey manages to complete the transformation processes, EU accession is not necessarily guaranteed, as France and Austria have frequently voiced concerns over the impact that a large Muslim country will have on the EU. Indeed, both countries have mentioned that they might hold referendums on whether Turkey should be allowed to join.
Posted on: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 04:04:25 +0000
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