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===In Turkey===
===In Turkey===
The opening of membership talks with the EU in December 2004 was celebrated by Turkey with much fanfare,<ref name="economist1"/> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/4713737.asp?gid=74|title=New Eurobarometer poll results show a drop in Turkish support for the EU|accessdate=2007-04-13}}</ref>
The opening of membership talks with the EU in December 2004 was celebrated by Turkey with much fanfare,<ref name="economist1">{{cite news|last=Economist|first=The|title=The ever lengthening road|publisher=[[The Economist]]|date=2006-12-07|url=http://www.economist.com/research/articlesBySubject/displaystory.cfm?subjectid=682266&story_id=8381644|accessdate=2007-07-04}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/4713737.asp?gid=74|title=New Eurobarometer poll results show a drop in Turkish support for the EU|accessdate=2007-04-13}}</ref>


==Official point of view==
==Official point of view==

Revision as of 18:00, 22 April 2008

  European Union
  Turkey
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,[2] 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".[3] 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.[4] 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,[5] and joining NATO in 1952.[6]

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.[7] 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.[4]

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.[8] 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.[9]

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.[10] Despite these setbacks, Turkey closed its first chapter of negotiations in June 2006.

Future

The earliest date that Turkey could enter the EU is 2013, the date when the next financial perspectives (the EU's six year budgetary perspectives) will come into force. Ankara is currently aiming to comply with EU law by this date,[11] but Brussels has refused to back 2013 as a deadline.[12] It is believed that the accession process will take at least fifteen years.[13]

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.[14]
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[15]
29 March 2007 - Chapter on Enterprise and Industrial Regulations opened[16]
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.[17]
20 December 2007 - Chapters on Health & Consumer Protection and on Trans-European Transport are opened.[18]

Status of acquis chapters

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Turkish membership issues

In order to accede 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, the largest city and economic capital of Turkey
File:Skyline of Maslak in Istanbul on June 23 2005.jpg
Maslak financial district in Istanbul

Turkey, a developed country,[19] has the seventh largest economy in the Council of Europe. Turkey is a founding member of the OECD and the G20 industrial nations.

Since the economic crisis of 2001 and the reforms initiated by the finance minister of the time, Kemal Derviş, inflation has fallen to single-digit numbers, investor confidence and foreign investment have soared, and unemployment has fallen. The IMF forecasts a 6% inflation rate for Turkey in 2008.[20] Turkey has gradually opened up its markets through economic reforms by reducing government controls on foreign trade and investment and the privatisation of publicly-owned industries, and the liberalisation of many sectors to private and foreign participation has continued amid political debate.[21]

Turkey's GDP growth rate from 2002 to 2007 averaged 7.4%,[22][23] which made Turkey one of the fastest growing economies in the world during that period. The World Bank forecasts a 5.4% GDP growth rate for Turkey in 2008.[24] Turkey's economy is no longer dominated by traditional agricultural activities in the rural areas, but more so by a highly dynamic industrial complex in the major cities, mostly concentrated in the western provinces of the country, along with a developed services sector. In 2007, the agricultural sector accounted for 8.9% of the GDP, while the industrial sector accounted for 30.8% and the services sector accounted for 59.3%.[25] The tourism sector has experienced rapid growth in the last twenty years, and constitutes an important part of the economy. In 2007, there were 27,214,988 visitors to the country, who contributed 18.5 billion USD to Turkey's revenues.[26] Other key sectors of the Turkish economy are banking, construction, automotive, home appliances, electronics, textiles, oil refining, petrochemical products, food, mining, iron and steel, and machine industry.

Turkish exports in 2006

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.[27] In 2007, Turkey's exports reached 110.5 billion USD[28] (main export partners: Germany 11.2%, UK 8%, Italy 6.95%, France 5.6%, Spain 4.3%, USA 3.88%; total EU exports 56.5%.) However, larger imports amounting to about 156.9 billion USD[29] threaten the balance of trade (main import partners: Russia 13.8%, Germany 10.3%, China 7.8%, Italy 6%, USA 4.8%, France 4.6%, Iran 3.9%, UK 3.2%; total EU imports 40.4%; total Asia imports 27%).[30][31]

Turkey's per-capita GDP places it among the upper-middle income countries. In 2006, Eurostat calculated the minimum monthly wage in Turkey as €331, which was larger than the minimum monthly 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).[32]

According to Forbes magazine, Istanbul, Turkey's financial capital, had a total of 35 billionaires as of March 2008 (up from 25 in 2007), ranking 4th in the world behind Moscow (74 billionaires), New York City (71 billionaires) and London (36 billionaires), while ranking above Hong Kong (30 billionaires), Los Angeles (24 billionaires), Mumbai (20 billionaires), San Francisco (19 billionaires), Dallas (15 billionaires) and Tokyo (15 billionaires).[33]

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.[34]

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 aging population.[35] Turkey has a young population. This might act as a balance for the increasingly aging populations of the current EU.[36]

As of 2005, the population of Turkey stood at 72.6 million with a growth rate of 1.5% per annum.[37][38] The Turkish population is relatively young, with 25.5% falling within the 0–15 age bracket.[39]

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.[40] 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.[41] 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 action to slow down 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 labour shortage, mostly in low educated jobs.

Geography

Further information: Geography of Turkey, Anatolia, Eastern Thrace, and Istanbul
File:Bosphorus Bridge Night.jpg
Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, connecting Europe (left) and Asia (right)

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.[42] Turkey's area, inclusive of lakes, occupies 783,562[43] 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,[42] 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 the Middle Eastern neighbours of Turkey, such as Syria, Iraq and Iran.

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] 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 had a history of rejecting Turkey's membership.[44] Greece has been supportive overall of Turkish membership, with Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis declaring, "Full compliance, full accession" in December 2006.[45] In 2005 the European Commission referred to relations between Turkey and Greece as "continuing to develop positively"[46] while also citing the lack of progress made by Turkey in dropping their claim of casus belli over a dispute about territorial waters boundaries.[46]

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.[47] 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."[48] EU reports in 2004 state that Turkey should take active measures to resolve this situation before eventual accession.[49]

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.[50] 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

Turkey, with 99% of the population nominally Muslim, would be the first Muslim-majority country to join the European Union, although Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina, also Muslim-majority, have been recognized as potential candidate countries.[51] The majority belongs to the Sunni branch of Islam, while a sizable minority of the population is affiliated with the Alevi sect, which is sometimes regarded as a subdivision of the Shia branch, but with its own distinct characteristics.[52] The Bektashi belong to a Sufi order of Islam that is indigenous to Turkey, but also has numerous followers in the Balkan peninsula, particularly in Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Serbia, Greece and Bulgaria. The Christians (Eastern Orthodox, Catholic, Gregorian, Syriac, Protestant) and Jews (Sephardic, Ashkenazi) are the two other sizable religious minorities in the country.

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.[53]

Effect upon the EU

File:TCDD Hızlı Tren.png
The Turkish high-speed railway network and the Marmaray transcontinental undersea railway tunnel will play an important role in improving trade and commerce between the EU members and the states of the Near East, the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea basin.
File:TuAF1.jpg
A KC-135R-CRAG Stratotanker of the Turkish Air Force refueling TAI-built F-16 fighter jets
File:Boeing 737 AEW&C Turkish Air Force flight 2.jpg
Boeing 737 AEW&C MESA aircraft of the Turkish Air Force

Proponents of Turkey's membership argue that it's a key regional power[54] with a large economy and the second largest military force of NATO[55][56] that will enhance the EU's position as a global geostrategic player; given Turkey's geographic location and economic, political, cultural and historic ties in regions with large natural resources that are at the immediate vicinity of the EU's geopolitical sphere of influence; such as the East Mediterranean and Black Sea coasts, the Middle East, the Caspian Sea basin and Central Asia.[57][58] 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."[59]

Upon joining the EU, Turkey's almost 70 million inhabitants would bestow it the second largest number of MEPs in the European Parliament.[10] In addition, Turkey's admission would add up to 10 billion Euros a year to the EU by 2020.[60] Demographic projections indicate Turkey would surpass Germany in the number of seats by 2020.[10] 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,[10] 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."[61]

Article 301

Main article: Article 301

The EU was especially critical of Article 301 of the Turkish penal code during the September 2005 trial of novelist Orhan Pamuk, with enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn calling the case "regrettable".[62] 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".[63] In September 2006, the European Parliament called for the abolition of laws, such as Article 301, "which threaten European free speech norms".[64] In April 2008, the law was amended. Article 301 states that "A person who publicly insults the Turkish nation, the State of the Republic of Turkey, or the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, shall be punishable by imprisonment of between six months and two years." and also that "Expressions of thought intended to criticise shall not constitute a crime."'

Kemal Kerinçsiz, an ultra-nationalist lawyer, and other members of Büyük Hukukçular Birliği ("Great Jurists Union") headed by Kerinçsiz, have been "behind nearly all of [Article 301] trials".[65] In January 2008, Kerinçsiz was arrested for participating in an ultra-nationalist underground organisation, allegedly behind the attacks on Turkish Council of State and Cumhuriyet newspaper,[66] assassination of several Christian missionaries and Armenian-Turkish intellectual Hrant Dink,[67] and also plotting the assassination of Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk.[68][69]

Women's rights

Eighteen female MPs joined the Turkish Parliament with the 1935 general elections, at a time when women in a significant number of other European countries had no voting rights. 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".[70]

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.[71]

Public reactions

In the EU

Public opinion in EU countries generally opposes Turkish membership, though with varying degrees of intensity. The Eurobarometer September-October 2006 survey [72] shows that 59% of EU-27 citizens are against Turkey joining the EU, while only about 28% are in favour. Nearly all citizens (about 9 in 10) expressed concerns about human rights as the leading cause. In the earlier March-May 2006 Eurobarometer, citizens from the new member states were 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 was 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%). [73]

Opposition in Denmark to Turkish membership was polled at 60% in October 2007, despite the Danish government's support for Turkey's EU bid.[74]

In Turkey

The opening of membership talks with the EU in December 2004 was celebrated by Turkey with much fanfare,[75] 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.[76]

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 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[77] 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).[78] 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.[79]

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."[80]

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.[81]

See also

References

  1. ^ EurActiv: EU-Turkey Relations
  2. ^ In 1948, Turkey became one of the original 18 members of 'Organisation for European Economic Co-operation' OEEC which became OECD in 1961 OECD convention
  3. ^ "Ottoman Empire." Britannica Student Encyclopedia. 2007. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 19 Apr. 2007 http://www.britannica.com/ebi/article-206012
  4. ^ a b Turkish Embassy.org - Republic of Turkey. "Turkey and EU". Retrieved 2007-07-04.
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