[satish]

Will Turkey Be Accepted for Membership?

The country of Turkey is typically considered to straddle both Europe and Asia. Turkey occupies all of the Anatolian Peninsula (also known as Asia Minor) and a small part of southeastern Europe. On October 3, 2005 negotiations began between Turkey (population 70 million) and the European Union (EU) for Turkey to be considered as a possible member of the EU in the future.

While most of Turkey lies geographically in Asia (the peninsula is Asian), far western Turkey lies in Europe. Turkey's largest city of Istanbul (known as Constantinople until 1930), with a population of over 9 million is located on both the east and west sides of the Bosporus strait so it straddles both what are traditionally considered Europe and Asia. However, Turkey's capital city of Ankara is fully outside of Europe and on the Asian continent.
While the European Union is working with Turkey to help it move toward being able to become a member of the European Union, there are some who are concerned about Turkey's potential membership.

Those opposed to Turkish membership in the EU point to several issues.

First, they state that Turkey's culture and values are different from those of the European Union as a whole. They point out that Turkey's 99.8% Muslim population is too different from Christian-based Europe. However, the EU makes the case that the EU is not a religion-based organization, Turkey is a secular (a non-religion-based government) state, and that 12 million Muslims currently live throughout the European Union. Nonetheless, the EU acknowledges that Turkey needs to "Substantially improve respect for the rights of non-Muslim religious communities to meet European standards."

Secondly, naysayers point out that since Turkey is mostly not in Europe (neither population-wise nor geographically), it should not become part of the European Union. The EU responds that, "The EU is based more on values and political will than on rivers and mountains," and acknowledges that, "Geographers and historians have never agreed on the physical or natural borders of Europe." Too true!

Third reason Turkey might have problems is its non-recognition of Cyprus, a full-fledged member of the European Union. Turkey will have to acknowledge Cyprus to be considered a contender for membership.

Finally, some are concerned that Turkey's large population would alter the balance of power in the European Union. After all, Germany's population (the largest country in the EU) is only at 82 million and declining. Turkey would be the second largest country (and perhaps eventually the largest with its much higher growth rate) in the EU and would have considerable influence in the European Union. This influence would be especially profound in the population-based European Parliament.

The low per-capita income of the Turkish population is also of concern since the economy of Turkey as a new EU member might have a negative effect on the EU as a whole.

Turkey is receiving considerable assistance from its European neighbors as well as from the EU. The EU has allocated billions and is expected to allocate billions of euros in funding for projects to help invest in a stronger Turkey that may one day become a member of the European Union.
The EU statement on why Turkey should be part of the European Union of the future, "Europe needs a stable, democratic and more prosperous Turkey which adopts our values, our rule of law, and our common policies. The accession perspective has already driven forward bold and significant reforms. If the rule of law and human rights are guaranteed throughout the country, Turkey can join the EU and thus become an even stronger bridge between civilizations as it is already today

Thank You !!

[Nethra K Putti]

Thank you for this nice post.

but i wanted to know that: Whether the Membership of any Country is depending on the Population of the country or Strength of the country?

[saifnaik]

Well in this case i think u need to be a country in the European continent

[satish]

Hello Nethra,

It would not be wrong to say that population of country should not be the key issue for the membership.but some section of people in Europe think that large Muslim population in Turky could disturb the balance.

Becoz we have the variabilty in population across the member country from Germany(more populous) to Cyprus(one of the least populous).

The main requirment for the membership is good track record of human rights development(which is one of the main key issue keeping in mind whatever is going on in southern Turkey),stability in economy,stable democracy etc.

And as far as strenght of a country is concerned certainly it could tilt the balance of power in it's favour.

Thank You !!!

[NAGARJUNA.C]

Thankyou Satish For This Nice Post And I Have Doubt ... Is E.u Is Formded Based On Population Concept Or Religious Concept? If So , Turkey Is Country Which Is Having Both Geographical And Political Link Between Both Europe And Asia,then What Is Problem That Lies Behind Its Membership Issue?is It Not Exactly A Religious Intolerance Of Member Countries Of E.u.

[satish]

Hello,
E.U. was neither formed on the basis of Population Concept nor Religious Concept.

Although proposals for European integration go back as far as the Middle Ages, the origins of the present EU date from World War II. Many Europeans believed that for their continent to experience a political and economic revival, the national rivalries that characterized the past had to give way to greater international cooperation. However, ever since the 1940s there has been disagreement on what methods to utilize.

European integration, the process that eventually yielded the EU, began on May 9, 1950, when France proposed to create a European trade organization. Two years later, France and Germany established the European Coal and Steel Community.

Continued success of the European Coal and Steel Community prompted its president to lobby European governments for the establishment of a large-scale economic and trade union and other members later followed.

Accession talks with Turkey were partially suspended in Dec., 2006, over the issue of Turkish relations with Cyprus and poor Human rights record of Turkey .

Still a large part of northern Cyprus is occupied by Turkey.

[NAGARJUNA.C]

Hello sir,
i think you might have come across the news that the win of old ruling party in Turkey. Is this election will show its effect on membership of E.U. It is in news that ruling party is not recognised as secular party and also it has dear relations with muslims than other non -muslims groups in the country. Opposition party also made un urge to the people about the concept before the election, but it does not show the effect on winning of present ruling party.My question is the present situation will enhace the process of membership of Turkey inE.U?

[manu22678]

because of the present ruling party AKP'S secular credentials are doubtful so france and britain will strongly oppose its accession and turkey's efforts are now in imperil.

[vvijayab]

Hi,

Turkey is trying to get into EU from a long time and has done all that EU asked for especially implementing the Copenhagen criteria's and opening up the borders with Cyprus, but it has still a long way to go. Some of the reasons:
a) One of the biggest reason is Greece and Cyprus who don't want Turkey to be part of EU due to Turkey's occupation of Northern part of Cyprus.
b) France is another candidate that don't want Turkey to be part of EU.
c) Turkey's past when they invaded part of current Europe and people even in this age hasn't come out of it.

Religion and Culture has it's role to play but not much as part of the population is Christian.

Turkey is a beautiful country with strong growth in retail, banking, telecom and others. It will help EU nations to become stronger and wealthier and that's reason their are countries in EU that want Turkey to be part of it.

Thanks,

[satish]

Thank You Manu and Vijay.

Many Turks are suspicious that the principle reason their country has remained excluded from the EU has to do with European fears of and prejudices against Muslims.

The Turkish press frequently lambastes those who it says wish to keep the EU as an exclusively Christian club.

Few EU politicians and bureaucrats are likely to freely admit there may be a grain of truth in this allegation.
Some do express concern - citing economic reasons - about the prospect of millions of relatively poor Turks flooding the EU labour market and at the same time EU says Turkey needs to carry out further political reforms before it can start talks on accession.

So large muslim population of Turkey could be one stumbling block for it's EU membership.