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If Turkey were to join the EU, it would be the only non-[[Christian]] country to have done so. Nominally, 99% of the Turkish population is [[Islam|Muslim]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_225_report_en.pdf |title=Social values, Science and Technology |date=June 2005 |language=English |format=PDF |accessdate=2006-12-19 |publisher=[[Eurobarometer]]}}</ref> of whom a majority belong to the [[Sunni]] branch of [[Islam]]. A sizeable minority of the population is affiliated with the [[Alevi]] sect.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Alevis in Turkey: The Emergence of a Secular Islamic Tradition|first=David|last=Shankland|publisher=Routledge (UK)|location=|year=2003|id=ISBN 0-7007-1606-8|url=http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0700716068&id=lFFRzTqLp6AC&pg=PP1&lpg=PP1&dq=Religion+in+Turkey&sig=qrG576JrBxJ4LIBqD-41ALytcAI#PPP1,M1 }}</ref> But the actual number of people who thoroughly practice Islam is not known. Many Turks prefer a secular lifestyle, with only marginal and basic religious practice, if any.
If Turkey were to join the EU, it would be the only non-[[Christian]] country to have done so. Nominally, 99% of the Turkish population is [[Islam|Muslim]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_225_report_en.pdf |title=Social values, Science and Technology |date=June 2005 |language=English |format=PDF |accessdate=2006-12-19 |publisher=[[Eurobarometer]]}}</ref> of whom a majority belong to the [[Sunni]] branch of [[Islam]]. A sizeable minority of the population is affiliated with the [[Alevi]] sect.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Alevis in Turkey: The Emergence of a Secular Islamic Tradition|first=David|last=Shankland|publisher=Routledge (UK)|location=|year=2003|id=ISBN 0-7007-1606-8|url=http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0700716068&id=lFFRzTqLp6AC&pg=PP1&lpg=PP1&dq=Religion+in+Turkey&sig=qrG576JrBxJ4LIBqD-41ALytcAI#PPP1,M1 }}</ref> But the actual number of people who thoroughly practice Islam is not known. Many Turks prefer a secular lifestyle, with only marginal and basic religious practice, if any.


There is a strong tradition of [[secularism in Turkey]]. The state has no official religion nor promotes any, and it actively monitors the area between the religions.<ref name="TR_Secularism">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3225651.stm |title=Headscarf row goes to Turkey's roots|author=British Broadcasting Corporation|authorlink=British Broadcasting Corporation|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=2006-12-13|date=2003-10-29}}</ref>
There is a strong tradition of [[secularism in Turkey]], which is closer in principle to the French version of ''[[laïcité]]'' (religion and state are separated, but the state regulates and inspects the religious services and institutions, and draws the red lines), rather than the Anglo-American approach (the state doesn't interfere in religious matters.) The state has no official religion nor promotes any, and it actively monitors the area between the religions.<ref name="TR_Secularism">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3225651.stm |title=Headscarf row goes to Turkey's roots|author=British Broadcasting Corporation|authorlink=British Broadcasting Corporation|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=2006-12-13|date=2003-10-29}}</ref>


=== Effect upon the EU ===
=== Effect upon the EU ===

Revision as of 01:07, 15 October 2007

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One of a number of posters created to promote the Marshall Plan in Europe, featuring Turkey

Turkey's formal application to join the European Community—the organization that has since developed into the European Union—was made on 14 April, 1987. Turkey has been a European Union (then the European Economic Community) associate member since 1963.[1] Turkey is also a member of the Council of Europe since 1949, a founding member of the OECD since 1961, a founding member of the OSCE since 1973 and an associate member of the Western European Union since 1992. Turkey signed a Customs Union agreement with the EU in 1995 and was officially recognised as a candidate for full membership on December 12th, 1999 at the Helsinki summit of the European Council. Negotiations were started on 3 October, 2005, and the process is likely to take at least a decade to complete. The membership bid has become the central controversy of the ongoing enlargement of the European Union.

History

Background

The modern Republic of Turkey is the successor state to the Ottoman Empire, the sole Islamic power in Europe for almost seven centuries before it sank into a decline that led some to call it the "sick man of Europe".[2] After the Empire's collapse in the wake of World War I, Turkish revolutionaries led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk emerged victorious in the Turkish War of Independence, establishing Turkey as it currently exists today. Atatürk, then Prime Minister and later President of Turkey, implemented a series of reforms that modernized Turkey and moved it more towards European culture.[3] During World War II, Turkey remained neutral until February 1945, when it joined the Allies. During the Cold War, Turkey allied itself with the United States, taking part in the Marshall Plan in 1947, joining as a member state the Council of Europe in 1949,[4] and joining NATO in 1952.[5]

1960s - 1990s

Turkey first applied for associate membership in the European Economic Community in 1959, and on September 12, 1963 signed the "Agreement Creating An Association Between The Republic of Turkey and the European Economic Community", also known as the Ankara Agreement. This agreement came into effect the following year on December 12, 1964. The Ankara Agreement sought to integrate Turkey into a customs union with the EEC whilst acknowledging the final goal of membership.[6] In November 1970, a further protocol called the "Additional Protocol" established a timetable for the abolition of tariffs and quotas on goods traded between Turkey and the EEC.[3]

1980 saw a temporary stop in relations as a result of the 1980 Turkish military coup following political and economic instability, though the recommencement of multiparty elections in 1983 saw Turkish-EEC relations fully restored. On 14 April, 1987, Turkey submitted its application for formal membership into the European Community. The European Commission responded in December 1989 by confirming Ankara’s eventual membership but also by deferring the matter to more favourable times, citing Turkey’s economic and political situation, as well its poor relations with Greece and the conflict with Cyprus as creating an unfavourable environment with which to begin negotiations.[7] This position was confirmed again in the Luxembourg European Council of 1997 in which accession talks were started with central and eastern European states and Cyprus, but not Turkey. During the 1990s, Turkey proceeded with a closer integration with the European Union by agreeing to a customs union in 1995. Moreover, the Helsinki European Council of 1999 proved a milestone as the EU recognised Turkey as a candidate on equal footing with other potential candidates.

2000s

The next significant step in Turkish-EU relations came with the December 2002 Copenhagen European Council. According to it, "the EU would open negotiations with Turkey 'without delay' if the European Council in December 2004, on the basis of a report and a recommendation from the Commission, decides that Turkey fulfils the Copenhagen political criteria".

With the 2002 election of the pro-European Justice and Development Party (AKP) led by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, a number of reforms led to increasing stability both politically and economically. In 2004, as part of the drive to enter a reunified Cyprus into the EU, the Turkish government supported the UN-backed Annan Plan for Cyprus. This plan was accepted by Turkish Cypriots, but rejected by the Greek Cypriots. At the same time, a three-decade-long period of hyperinflation ended, with inflation reduced to 6% from annual levels of 75% during the mid-1990s.[8]

The political reform program of the Erdoğan government continued. This included the abolition of capital punishment, crackdown on torture, and more rights for its Kurdish population. In response to these developments, the European Commission recommended that the negotiations should begin in 2005, but also added various precautionary measures. The EU leaders agreed on 16 December, 2004 to start accession negotiations with Turkey from 3 October, 2005. Despite an offer from the Austrian Österreichische Volkspartei, and the German Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands of a privileged partnership status, a less than full membership, EU accession negotiations were officially launched.

Turkey's accession talks have since been dogged by a number of domestic and external problems. Several European states such as Austria have made their reluctance to allow Turkey into Europe clear. The issue of Cyprus continues to be a major obstacle to negotiations. European officials have commented on the slowdown in Turkish reforms which, combined with the Cyprus problem, has led the EU’s enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn to warn of an impeding ‘train crash’ in negotiations with Turkey.[9] Despite these setbacks, Turkey closed its first chapter of negotiations in June 2006.

The earliest date that Turkey could enter the EU is 2013, the date when the next six-year EU budget will come into force. Ankara is currently aiming to comply with EU law by this date,[10] but Brussels has refused to back 2013 as a deadline.[11] It is believed that the accession process will take at least fifteen years.[12]

Timeline

1959 - Turkey applies for associate membership in the European Economic Community.
1963 - Association Agreement signed, acknowledging the final goal of membership.
1964 - Association Agreement comes into effect.[13]
1970 - Protocol signed providing a timetable for the abolition of tariffs and quotas on goods.
1980 - Freeze in relations following the 1980 Turkish coup d'état.
1983 - Relations fully restored following elections.
1987 - Application for formal membership into the European Community.
1989 - European Commission refuses to immediately begin accession negotiations, citing Turkey’s economic and political situation, poor relations with Greece and their conflict with Cyprus, but overall reaffirming eventual membership as the goal.
1995 - European Union-Turkey Customs Union is formed.
1999 - European Council recognises Turkey as a candidate on equal footing with other potential candidates.
2002 - European Council states that "the EU would open negotiations with Turkey 'without delay' if Turkey fulfils the Copenhagen criteria".
2002 - 2002 Turkish general election brings the pro-EU Justice and Development Party (AKP) to power.
2004 - Turkish government and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus back the Annan Plan for Cyprus.
2004, December - European Union agrees to start negotiations.
3 October 2005 - Opening of six chapters of the Acquis: Right of Establishment & Freedom to provide Services, Company Law, Financial Services, Information Society & Media, Statistics and Financial Control
12 June 2006 - Chapter on Science and Research opened and closed.
11 December 2006 - Continued dispute over Cyprus prompts EU to freeze talks on eight chapters and state no chapters would be closed until a resolution is found[14]
29 March 2007 - Chapter on Enterprise and Industrial Regulations opened[15]
25 June 2007 - Chapters on Statistics and Financial Control opened, but the opening of the chapter on economic and monetary policy was blocked by French President Nicholas Sarkozy.[16]

Status of acquis chapters

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Turkish membership issues

In order to acceed to the EU, Turkey must first successfully complete negotiations with the European Commission on each of the 35 chapters of the EU's acquis and then the member states must unanimously agree to Turkish membership. Public opinion in EU countries generally opposes Turkish membership, though with varying degrees of intensity, although political leaders and politicians of the European Union generally support it. Some countries, notably France and Austria, have discussed putting the decision to a referendum.

Turkey’s entry into the EU may have profound consequences on the future direction of the EU. The issues mentioned by some of those objecting to Turkey's EU candidacy can be divided among those inherent to Turkey's situation, those that involve internal issues about human rights, democracy, and related matters, and those concerning Turkey's open external disputes with its neighbours. There is much contention over whether some of these arguments are used by people more as a proxy against peoples true feelings about Turkish membership in the sense that the country is not culturally European and therefore should be denied entry at all.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Turkey
File:Levent financial district as seen from Sporcular Park on October 30 2003.jpg
Levent financial district in Istanbul

Turkey, a developed country,[17] has the seventh largest economy in the Council of Europe. Turkey is a founding member of the OECD since 1961 and is also a member of the G20 industrial nations which brings together the 20 largest economies of the world.

File:Skyline of Maslak in Istanbul on June 23 2005.jpg
Maslak financial district in Istanbul

Turkey's main trading partners are the European Union (59% of exports and 52% of imports as of 2005),[18] the United States, Russia and Japan. Turkey has taken advantage of a customs union with the European Union, signed in 1995, to increase its industrial production destined for exports, while at the same time benefiting from EU-origin foreign investment into the country.[19]

The average economic growth rate between 2002 and 2006 was above 7%,[20] almost four times higher than average growth in the EU.[21] Despite the strong economic gains in 2002-06, which were largely due to renewed investor interest in emerging markets, IMF backing, and tighter fiscal policy, the economy is still burdened by a high current account deficit, high debt and unemployment.[22] Turkey's exports are expected to reach $100 billion in 2007, but imports will rise to $160 billion, mostly due to the country's need of energy resources like natural gas and crude oil.[23] Turkey targets exports of $200 billion in 2013, and a total trade volume of at least $450 billion.[24]

File:Izmir from Konak Pier.jpg
İzmir is Turkey's second largest port after Istanbul and the country's third largest city
File:Armada Tower Ankara.jpg
Armada Tower and Shopping Center in Ankara won the "Best Shopping Mall in Europe" award by the ICSC in 2003

Turkey's Vestel Electronics is the largest TV producer in Europe, accounting for a quarter of all TV sets manufactured and sold on the continent.[25] By January 2005, Vestel and its rival Turkish electronics and white goods brand BEKO accounted for more than half of all TV sets manufactured in Europe.[26] Another Turkish electronics brand, Profilo-Telra, was Europe's third largest TV producer in 2005.[27]

Turkey also has a large and growing automotive industry, which produced 1,024,987 motor vehicles in 2006[28], ranking as the 6th largest automotive producer in Europe; behind Germany (5,819,614), France (3,174,260), Spain (2,770,435), the United Kingdom (1,648,388), and Italy (1,211,594), respectively.[29]

Turkey's per-capita GDP places it among the upper-middle income countries. In 2006, Eurostat calculated the minimum wage in Turkey as €331, which was larger than the minimum wage in nine European Union member states, namely Bulgaria (€82), Romania (€90), Latvia (€129), Lithuania (€159), Slovakia (€183), Estonia (€192), Poland (€234), Hungary (€247) and the Czech Republic (€261); while lower than the minimum wage in Portugal (€437).[30][31]

The opening of talks regarding the Economic and Monetary Policy acquis chapter of Turkey's accession bid was expected to begin in June 2007, but were stalled by France.[32]

Population

Further information: Demographics of Turkey
File:Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul on 3 June 2007.jpg
İstiklal Avenue in Istanbul's cosmopolitan Beyoğlu district is visited by an average of 3 million people on weekend days
File:Bağdat Caddesi 3.jpg
Bağdat Avenue in the Kadıköy district of Istanbul, on the Anatolian side, is a popular high street

Statistics show that the birth rate is declining in the entire continent of Europe. Especially in Eastern Europe and Russia population growth is in minus stage. The EU member states already set a goal to solve the impact of the ageing population.[33] Turkey has a young population. This might act as a balance for the increasingly aging populations of the current EU.[who?]

As of 2005, the population of Turkey stood at 72.6 million with a growth rate of 1.5% per annum.[34][35] The Turkish population is relatively young, with 25.5% falling within the 0–15 age bracket.[36]

According to statistics released by the government in 2005, life expectancy stands at 68.9 years for men and 73.8 years for women, with an overall average of 71.3 years for the populace as a whole.[37] Education is compulsory and free from ages 6 to 15.

The Turkish people (Türk Halkı), are a nation (millet) in the meaning an ethnos (Halk in Turkish), defined more by a sense of sharing a common Turkish culture and having a Turkish mother tongue, than by citizenship, religion or by being subjects to any particular country.

The word Turk or Turkish also has a wider meaning in an historical context because, at times, especially in the past, it has been used to refer to all Muslim inhabitants of the Ottoman Empire irrespective of their ethnicity.[38] The question of ethnicity in modern Turkey is a highly debated and difficult issue. Figures published in several different sources prove this difficulty by varying greatly.

Immigration

Main articles: Turks in Germany, Turks in the Netherlands, Turkish diaspora, and Immigration to Turkey

West Germany suffered an acute labour shortage after the Second World War and, in 1961, the Bundesrepublik officially invited Turkish workers to Germany to fill in this void, particularly to work in the factories underpinning the boom, the Wirtschaftswunder ("economic miracle") of the 1960s and 1970s. Turkish citizens soon became the largest group of Gastarbeiter — literally, guest workers — in West Germany. The perception at the time on the part of both the West German Government and the Gastarbeiter themselves was that working in Germany would only be temporary. As in the rest of Western Europe, though, most of the Gastarbeiter became settled permanent residents of their adopted country, bringing over spouses and relatives from Turkey and raising families.

The Merkel government has taken an action slow down the Turkish immigration to Germany.

In 1964, due to a severe labor shortage, the Dutch government formally invited Turkish men and women to come and work in the Netherlands. Most of the guest workers ended up in those places where there was a labor shortage, mostly in low educated jobs.

Geography

Further information: Geography of Turkey, Anatolia, Eastern Thrace, and Istanbul
Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, connecting Europe (left) and Asia (right)
File:TuAF1.jpg
A KC-135 Stratotanker of the Turkish Air Force refueling TAI-built F-16 jets
Marmaris on the Turkish Riviera
File:TCDD Hızlı Tren.png
TCDD high speed train, combined with the Marmaray underwater railway tunnel crossing the Bosphorus, will establish a quick railway connection between Europe and Anatolia

The territory of Turkey is more than 1,600 kilometres (1,000 mi) long and 800 km (500 mi) wide, with a roughly rectangular shape.[39] Turkey's area, inclusive of lakes, occupies 783,562[40] square kilometres (300,948 sq mi), of which 755,688 square kilometres (291,773 sq mi) are in Southwest Asia and 23,764 square kilometres (9,174 sq mi) in Europe,[39] thus making Turkey a transcontinental country. Turkey's area makes it the world's 37th-largest country, and is about the size of Metropolitan France and the United Kingdom combined.

Ankara, the Turkish capital, is in Anatolia, the Asian part of Turkey. Istanbul, Turkey's most populous city, and its cultural and financial center, is the only metropolis in the world which is situated on two continents. Istanbul was chosen a European Capital of Culture for 2010.

Turkey's membership would mean that the European Union's external borders would reach Middle Eastern neighbors of Turkey, such as Syria, Iraq and Iran. According to Carl Bildt, Swedish foreign minister, "[The accession of Turkey] would give the EU a decisive role for stability in the eastern part of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, which is clearly in the strategic interest of Europe."[41]

Turkey is a strong regional power, with its history, its economy, and its armed forces which are the second largest in NATO.

Foreign relations

Cyprus

Further information: [[:Cyprus dispute]]

The island of Cyprus is still divided after the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, following a coup d'etat by Nikos Sampson against the Cypriot government of Makarios III and fully supported by the Greek military junta of 1967-1974 under its de facto leader Dimitrios Ioannides. Turkey refuses to acknowledge the Republic of Cyprus (an EU member) as the sole authority on the island, and recognises the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the north. Turkey and Turkish Cypriots backed the 2004 Annan Plan for Cyprus aimed at reunification of the island, but was subsequently rejected by Greek Cypriots on the grounds that it did not meet their needs. According to Cypriots, the latest proposal included maintained residence rights for the many Anatolian Turks that were brought to Cyprus after the invasion and their descendants, and Greek-Cypriots who lost their property after the Turkish invasion would be granted only a restricted right of return. Although the outcome received much criticism in the EU as well, the Republic of Cyprus was admitted into the EU a week after the referendum. The Turkish government has refused to officially recognise the state of Cyprus (a current EU member State) until its admittance into the EU.[citation needed] This issue alone is of great diplomatic concern because it paradoxically implies that Turkey does not fully recognise one of the sides it is negotiating with.[who?] One possible solution, apart from an unlikely change of strategy by the Turkish government, would be the introduction of a bureaucratic or diplomatic circumvention or escamotage, such as the EU adopting special negotiation rules for Turkey. The other 'solution', or rather outcome, is that the EU prefers to stick with its existing rules, known as acquis communautaire, and further delay Turkey's accession. Turkey's non-recognition of the Republic of Cyprus has led to complications within the Customs Union. Under the customs agreements Turkey already signed as a precondition to start negotiations in 2005, it is obliged to open its ports to Cypriot planes and vessels, but Turkey refuses this and insists it will only do so after the EU proposal to open up direct trade with the Turkish Cypriots and provide €259,000,000 in funds to help them upgrade their infrastructure is fulfilled. Greek Cypriots have subsequently threatened to veto accession talks unless Turkey complies.

Greece

Further information: [[:Greco-Turkish relations]]

Greece has been supportive overall of Turkish membership, with Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis declaring, "Full compliance, full accession" in December 2006.[42] In 2005 the European Commission referred to relations between Turkey and Greece as "continuing to develop positively"[43] while also citing the lack of progress made by Turkey in dropping their claim of casus belli over a dispute about territorial waters boundaries.[43]

Armenia

Main article: Armenian-Turkish relations

Turkey maintains economic embargo and border crossing closures against Armenia, due to the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh. Since the end of the Nagorno-Karabakh War in 1994, Armenia has occupied up to 14% of Azerbaijan, and supports, but does not recognise, Karabakhi independence. Both Turkey and the European Union support Azerbaijan’s claims to Nagorno-Karabakh and view the situation as an occupation of Azeri land.[44] In September 2004, Romano Prodi, then-President of the European Commission, stated his view about the issue as: "Personally, I do not like that the Armenian-Turkish border gate is closed. I do not exclude that the issue of closed borders could be one of the preconditions for Turkey's membership."[45] EU reports in 2004 state that Turkey should take active measures to resolve this situation before eventual accession.[46]

Turkey has insisted[citation needed] that the route of the lucrative Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline bypass Armenian territory. According to MEP Lagendijk, following amendments instigated by lobby groups, recognition of the Armenian genocide by Turkey was described as a precondition for Turkey to join in the 13 September 2006 report on Turkey's progress; this controversial clause, making recognition of the Armenian genocide a "precondition" to Turkey’s EU accession, was amended two weeks later.[47] Turkey, pointing out that recognition of historical events has never been a precondition for other states, considers this an example of the creation of new obstacles by countries opposed to their joining.[citation needed]

Religion

Further information: Religion in Turkey and Secularism in Turkey

If Turkey were to join the EU, it would be the only non-Christian country to have done so. Nominally, 99% of the Turkish population is Muslim,[48] of whom a majority belong to the Sunni branch of Islam. A sizeable minority of the population is affiliated with the Alevi sect.[49] But the actual number of people who thoroughly practice Islam is not known. Many Turks prefer a secular lifestyle, with only marginal and basic religious practice, if any.

There is a strong tradition of secularism in Turkey, which is closer in principle to the French version of laïcité (religion and state are separated, but the state regulates and inspects the religious services and institutions, and draws the red lines), rather than the Anglo-American approach (the state doesn't interfere in religious matters.) The state has no official religion nor promotes any, and it actively monitors the area between the religions.[50]

Effect upon the EU

Upon joining the EU, Turkey's almost 70 million inhabitants would bestow it the second largest number of MEPs in the European Parliament.[9] Demographic projections indicate Turkey would surpass Germany in the number of seats by 2020.[9] In January 2005, the Turkish AKP approached the European People's Party and was admitted as an observer-member.

Turkey's membership would also affect future enlargement plans, especially the number of nations seeking EU membership,[9] grounds by which Valéry Giscard d'Estaing has opposed Turkey's admission. d'Estaing has suggested that it would lead to demands for accession by Morocco. Morocco's application is already rejected on the geographic grounds, and Turkey, unlike Morocco, has territory in Europe. French President Nicholas Sarkozy (then a candidate) has stated in January 2007 that "Enlarging Europe with no limit risks destroying European political union, and that I do not accept...I want to say that Europe must give itself borders, that not all countries have a vocation to become members of Europe, beginning with Turkey which has no place inside the European Union."[51]

Article 301

Main article: Article 301

Opinions critical of the strongly nationalistic[who?] line are regularly prosecuted under Article 301 of the Turkish penal code. The EU was especially critical of Article 301 during the September 2005 trial of novelist Orhan Pamuk, with enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn calling the case "regrettable".[52] After the case was dropped three months later, Turkey's Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül indicated that Turkey may abandon or modify Article 301, stating that "there may be need for a new law".[53] In September 2006, the European Parliament called for the abolition of laws, such as Article 301, "which threaten European free speech norms".[54] Article 301 states that "A person who publicly denigrates Turkishness, the Republic or the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, shall be punishable by imprisonment of between six months and three years." and also that "Expressions of thought intended to criticise shall not constitute a crime."

Women's rights

Eighteen female MPs joined the Turkish Parliament with the 1935 general elections, in a time when women in many European countries couldn't even vote. In 1993 Tansu Çiller became the first female Prime Minister of Turkey

In its second report on women's role in social, economic and political life in Turkey, the European Parliament emphasised that respecting human rights, including women’s rights, is a condition sine qua non for Turkey's membership of the EU. According to the report, Turkey's legal framework on women's rights "has in general been satisfactory, but its substantive implementation remains flawed".[55]

Conscientious objectors

Turkey is one of the two states (with Azerbaijan) among the 46 members of the Council of Europe which has refused to recognise the status of conscientious objectors or give them an alternative to military service.[56]

Public reactions

In the EU

Public opinion in EU countries generally opposes Turkish membership, though with varying degrees of intensity. The Eurobarometer March-May 2006 survey shows that 48% of EU-25 citizens are against Turkey joining the EU, while about 39% are in favour. Citizens from the new member states are more in favour of Turkey joining (44% in favour) than the old EU-15 (38% in favour). At the time of the survey, the country whose population most strongly opposed Turkish membership was Austria (con: 81%), while Romania is most in favour of the accession (pro: 66%). On a wider political scope, the highest support comes from the Turkish Cypriot Community (pro: 67%) (which is not recognised as sovereign state and is de facto not EU territory and out of the European institutions). These communities are even more in favour of the accession than the Turkish populace itself (pro: 54%).[57]

In Turkey

The opening of membership talks with the EU in December 2004 was celebrated by Turkey with much fanfare,[21] but the Turkish populace has become increasingly eurosceptic as negotiations are delayed. Based on what it views as lukewarm support for its accession to the EU and alleged double standards in its negotiations (France and Austria have indicated they will hold referendums on Turkey's membership), the Turkish public has become increasingly eurosceptic in recent times. A mid-2006 Eurobarometer survey revealed that 43% of Turkish citizens view the EU positively; just 35% trust the EU, 45% support enlargement and just 29% support an EU constitution.[58]

Official point of view

EU member states must unanimously agree to Turkish membership for Turkish accession to be successful. A number of nations could oppose it, notably Austria, which historically served as a bulwark for Christian Europe against the Ottoman Empire, and France, which is fearful of the prospect of another wave of Muslim immigrants (especially given the poor integration of its existing, mainly Arab (i.e. not Turkish), Muslim minority).

  • Former French President Jacques Chirac, a supporter of the accession of Turkey into the EU, had to agree that the amendment to the French constitution authorising the ratification of the proposed European Constitution[59] contains a clause saying that a referendum is required before France can give its approval to Turkey or other future candidates to the European Union (the amendment excludes states that have already signed agreements).[60] Some politicians opposed to the constitutional treaty, such as Philippe de Villiers, argued that the treaty paved the way to Turkish membership, which they deem highly undesirable.
  • Former Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel has said that he may hold a referendum on the issue. Recently, Austrian President Heinz Fischer has strongly suggested a pan-European referendum on the issue, given its great importance for the future of the EU. Recent Greek governments supported Turkish membership hoping that Turkey would soften up its stance in a number of issues of conflict between Turkey and Greece during the process of and after joining the EU. However, opinion polls from the end of December 2004 show that opposition is twice as strong among the Greek public as support.[citation needed]
  • European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said that Turkey is not ready to join the EU "tomorrow nor the day after tomorrow", but its membership negotiations should continue. He also called on France and other member states to honour the decision to continue accession talks, describing it as a matter of credibility for the Union.[61]

Developments within Turkey could also freeze accession talks— the rise to power of a hard-line Islamic or nationalist government, or the current government failing to prove its willingness to respect the acquis communautaire. Interference of the sceptical military in civilian rule is detrimental to accession as well. Yet this point is seen favourably by some, as the Turkish army is known to intervene only when political leadership risks plunging the nation into a religious Sharia state. In effect preventing a demodernisation of the state.

The EU Progress Report from November 9, 2005 stated that

"On 29 July 2005, Turkey signed the Additional Protocol adapting the EC Turkey Association Agreement to the accession of 10 new countries on 1 May 2004. At the same time, Turkey issued a declaration stating that signature of the Additional Protocol did not amount to recognition of the Republic of Cyprus. On 21 September, the EU adopted a counter-declaration indicating that Turkey’s declaration was unilateral, did not form part of the Protocol and had no legal effect on Turkey’s obligations under the Protocol. The EU declaration stressed that recognition of all Member States was a necessary component of the accession process. It also underlined the need for supporting the efforts of the Secretary General of the UN to bring about a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem which would contribute to peace, stability and harmonious relations in the region."[62]

On 2006-11-29, the BBC reported that the European Commission members had decided to suspend parts of the talks with Turkey regarding accession, following the failure to reach agreement over the various issue surrounding the occupation of Cyprus.[63]

See also

References

  1. ^ EurActiv: EU-Turkey Relations
  2. ^ "Ottoman Empire." Britannica Student Encyclopedia. 2007. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 19 Apr. 2007 http://www.britannica.com/ebi/article-206012
  3. ^ a b Turkish Embassy.org - Republic of Turkey. "Turkey and EU". Retrieved 2007-07-04.
  4. ^ Council of Europe (2006-10-27). "Turkey and the Council of Europe". Council of Europe. Retrieved 2006-10-30.
  5. ^ NATO. "Greece and Turkey accede to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation". NATO. Retrieved 2006-10-30.
  6. ^ Turkish Embassy.org - Republic of Turkey. "Turkish Embassy, Turkey and EU". Retrieved 2007-04-13.
  7. ^ Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in London. "About Turkey and the EU". Retrieved 2007-07-04.
  8. ^ ""Turkey's Ruling Party Marks Its 3rd Anniversary". Retrieved 2007-05-06.
  9. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference economist2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Turkey targets 2013 for EU legal compliance euobserver.com
  11. ^ declines to endorse 2013 date for Turkey's EU entry euobserver.com
  12. ^ "Interview with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on BBC Sunday AM" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-04-13.
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  27. ^ Europe's No. 3 TV Manufacturer, a Private Company: PROFILO-TELRA
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  44. ^ Bulletin EU 7/8-2002: Common foreign and security policy (5/39), European Commission on 27 March 2003
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