151.37.178.16 (talk) |
|||
(24 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown) | |||
Line 57: | Line 57: | ||
== Turkish membership issues == |
== Turkish membership issues == |
||
[[Image:FR referendum EU constitution.JPG|right|thumb|200px|Posters from the [[French European Constitution referendum, 2005|2005 French European Constitution referendum]]. The posters at top, with the old logo of [[Jean-Marie Le Pen]]'s [[far right]], [[nationalist]] <ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6242585.stm]</ref> [[National Front (France)|National Front]] in the "O", urge French voters to vote No, linking the [[European Constitution]] to "Turquie" ([[Turkey]]).]] |
|||
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. |
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. |
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|Economy of Turkey}} |
||
[[Image: |
[[Image:2006Turkish_exports.PNG|thumb|200px|Turkish exports in 2006]] |
||
Turkey, a [[Developed_country#CIA_developed_country_list|developed country]], is the country with the seventh largest economy in the Council of Europe<!-- behind Germany, UK, France, Italy, Russia, and Spain-->. Partly because of the Customs Union, the main trading partner of Turkey is EU (59% of exports and 52% of imports as of 2005).<ref name="TSI_ForeignTrade2006">{{cite web|url = http://www.die.gov.tr/ENGLISH/SONIST/DISTICIST/301106.doc |title=Foreign Trade Statistics as of October 2006|author=Turkish Statistical Institute|authorlink=Turkish Statistical Institute|publisher=Turkish Statistical Institute|accessdate=2006-12-11|date=2006-11-30}}</ref> |
|||
The [[CIA]] classifies Turkey as a [[Developed_country#CIA_developed_country_list|developed country]].<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/appendix/appendix-b.html CIA World Factbook]</ref> 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. |
|||
⚫ | In 2004 and 2005, economic growth was above 7%,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/turkey/economic_profile_en.htm|title=European Commission--Turkey-Economic Profile|accessdate=2007-06-06}}</ref> almost four times higher than average growth in the EU.<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> 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 high unemployment.<ref name="cia-wb-tu">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/tu.html|title=CIA World Factbook - Turkey|accessdate=2007-04-13}}</ref> |
||
For most of its republican history, Turkey has adhered to a quasi-[[statism|statist]] approach, with strict government controls over private sector participation, foreign trade, and [[foreign direct investment]]. However, during the 1980s, Turkey began a series of reforms, initiated by Prime Minister [[Turgut Özal]] and designed to shift the economy from a statist, insulated system to a more private-sector, [[market economy|market]]-based model.<ref name="80sLiberalization">{{cite book|title=Economics and Politics of Turkish Liberalization|first=Tevfik F.|last=Nas|publisher=Lehigh University Press|location=|year=1992|id=ISBN 0-9342-2319-X}}</ref> |
|||
⚫ | 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 EU member states, and about four times as large as the ones in [[Bulgaria]] and [[Romania]].<ref> {{cite web|url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-NK-06-009/EN/KS-NK-06-009-EN.PDF |title=Eurostat: Minimum Wages 2006 |accessdate=2007-09-28 |last=Regnard |first=Pierre |date=September 2006 |format=PDF |publisher=Eurostat }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Türkiye'de asgari ücret yüksek çıktı | date=[[13 July]] [[2006]]| url =http://www.cnnturk.com/EKONOMI/GENEL/haber_detay.asp?PID=40&HID=1&haberID=201012 | work =CNN Türk | accessdate = 2007-09-28 | language = Turkish }}</ref> |
||
Turkey's main trading partners are the [[European Union]] (59% of exports and 52% of imports as of 2005),<ref name="TSI_ForeignTrade2006">{{cite web|url = http://www.die.gov.tr/ENGLISH/SONIST/DISTICIST/301106.doc |title=Foreign Trade Statistics as of October 2006|author=Turkish Statistical Institute|authorlink=Turkish Statistical Institute|publisher=Turkish Statistical Institute|accessdate=2006-12-11|date=2006-11-30}}</ref> the [[United States]], [[Russia]] and [[Japan]]. Turkey has taken advantage of a [[European Union-Turkey Customs Union|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2006/05/03/000016406_20060503112446/Rendered/PDF/wps3908.pdf |title=Turkey's evolving trade integration into Pan-European markets|author=Bartolomiej Kaminski|coauthors=Francis Ng|publisher=World Bank|accessdate=2006-12-27|date=2006-05-01}}</ref> |
|||
⚫ | The opening of talks about the Economic and Monetary Policy [[acquis|acquis chapter]] of Turkey's accession bid was expected to begin in June 2007, but talks were stalled by [[France]].<ref name="bbcturkeyunhappy">{{cite news|title=Turkey unhappy at EU talks delay|publisher=BBC News|date=[[2007-06-26]]|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6241176.stm|accessdate=2007-07-03}}</ref> |
||
[[Image:Levent financial district as seen from Sporcular Park on October 30 2003.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Levent]] financial district in [[Istanbul]]]] |
|||
[[Image:Metrocity Levent Istanbul.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Street level view of [[Levent]] financial district in [[Istanbul]]]] |
|||
⚫ | |||
Turkey's [http://www.vestel.com.tr/dev_en Vestel Electronics] is the largest TV producer in [[Europe]], accounting for a quarter of all TV sets manufactured and sold on the continent.<ref>[http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/jun2006/gb20060609_371863.htm BusinessWeek: The Unknown TV Giant]</ref> By January 2005, Vestel and its rival Turkish electronics and white goods brand [http://www.beko.com BEKO] accounted for more than half of all TV sets manufactured in Europe.<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2005/BUSINESS/01/17/turkey.beko/ CNN World Business: Turkey switches on to TV market]</ref> Another Turkish electronics brand, [http://www.profilo-telra.com/ Profilo-Telra], was Europe's third largest TV producer in 2005.<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Europe's+No.+3+TV+Manufacturer%2c+a+Private+Company%3a+PROFILO-TELRA-a0135431630 Europe's No. 3 TV Manufacturer, a Private Company: PROFILO-TELRA]</ref> |
|||
Turkey also has a large and growing [[automotive industry]], which produced 1,024,987 [[motor vehicle]]s in 2006<ref>[http://www.osd.org.tr/tskb.pdf Turkish Automotive Producers' Association: Turkish Automotive Production]</ref>, 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.<ref>[http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=108806 Today's Zaman: Turkey Europe's sixth largest auto producer]</ref> |
|||
⚫ | 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 |
||
⚫ | The opening of talks |
||
=== Population === |
=== Population === |
||
{{See|Demographics of Turkey}} |
|||
[[Image:Pasaport Quay in Izmir.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Cafés along the historic Pasaport Quay (1877) at the port of [[İzmir]]]] |
|||
[[Image:Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul on 3 June 2007.jpg|thumb|200px|[[İstiklal Avenue]] |
[[Image:Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul on 3 June 2007.jpg|thumb|200px|[[İstiklal Avenue]] visited by 3 million people in a weekend day]] |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | 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.<ref>http://www.eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:52006DC0571:EN:NOT</ref> Turkish population (72.6 million in 2007) is relatively young, with 25.5% falling within the 0–15 age bracket.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intute.ac.uk/sciences/worldguide/html/1046_people.html |title=Turkey - Population and Demographics|author=Intute|authorlink=|publisher= Intute|accessdate= 2006-12-10|date=2006-07|}}</ref> This might act as a balance for the increasingly aging populations of the current EU.{{who}} |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | 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.<ref>http://www.eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:52006DC0571:EN:NOT</ref> |
||
{{Main|Turks in Germany|Turks in the Netherlands|Turkish diaspora}} |
|||
West Germany suffered an acute labour shortage after the [[World War II|Second World War]] and, in 1961, the [[Federal Republic of Germany|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. |
|||
As of 2005, the population of Turkey stood at 72.6 million with a growth rate of 1.5% per annum.<ref name="WorldBank_Turkey_glance" /><ref name="WorldBank_TRStat" /> The Turkish population is relatively young, with 25.5% falling within the 0–15 age bracket.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intute.ac.uk/sciences/worldguide/html/1046_people.html |title=Turkey - Population and Demographics|author=Intute|authorlink=|publisher= Intute|accessdate= 2006-12-10|date=2006-07|}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://arama.hurriyet.com.tr/arsivnews.aspx?id=5546229 |title=Life expectancy has increased in 2005 in Turkey|author=Anadolu Agency (AA)|authorlink=Anadolu Agency|work=Hürriyet|accessdate=2006-12-09|date=2006-12-03}}</ref> Education is compulsory and free from ages 6 to 15. |
|||
⚫ | |||
Turkish population increased from 45 million in 1980 to 73 million in 2007.<ref>TUIK official report</ref> This also affected the economic development of Turkey. Between 1980 and 2002, GNP growth rate had actually fallen behind the rate of increase in population. From the point of view of social policy, one of the most important problems that a growing population brings is unemployment. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan supports the increase of the Turkish population. He supports the idea that postmodern Turkish economy can sustain population growth. He stated “I don’t like to see Turkey become an aging population country similar to the European states”.<ref>[http://www.startv.com.tr star televisionu 2007 seçimler]</ref> The true reason, however, might be the fact that Erdoğan's conservative AKP gets most of its votes from the rural areas and the low-income suburbs of the large cities, where birth rates are high and children are seen as assets for supporting the family economy and farms. |
|||
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 === |
||
{{See|Geography of Turkey|Anatolia|Eastern Thrace|Istanbul}} |
|||
[[Image:Atakule Ankara.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Atakule Tower]] in [[Ankara]]]] |
|||
[[Image:Most Bosfor Istambuł RB1.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Bosphorus Bridge]] in Istanbul, connecting Europe (left) and Asia (right)]] |
|||
The territory of Turkey is more than 1,600 [[kilometre]]s (1,000 [[mile|mi]]) long and 800 km (500 mi) wide, with a roughly rectangular shape.<ref name="USLC_TRGeo">{{cite web|url=http://countrystudies.us/turkey/18.htm |title=Geography of Turkey|author=US Library of Congress|authorlink=US Library of Congress|publisher=US Library of Congress|accessdate=2006-12-13|date=}}</ref> Turkey's area, inclusive of lakes, occupies 783,562<ref>[http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/DYB2004/Table03.pdf UN Demographic Yearbook, accessed April 16, 2007]</ref> [[square kilometre]]s (300,948 [[square mile|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]],<ref name="USLC_TRGeo" /> thus making Turkey a [[transcontinental country]]. Turkey's area makes it the world's [[List of countries and outlying territories by total area|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 [[continent]]s. Istanbul was chosen a [[European Capital of Culture]] for [[2010]]. |
|||
Turkey's membership would mean that the [[Countries bordering the European Union|European Union's external borders]] would reach Middle Eastern neighbors of Turkey, such as [[Syria]], [[Iraq]] and [[Iran]]. According to [[Carl Bildt]], [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Sweden)|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."<ref name="ihtbildt">{{cite news|last = Ekman|first = Ivar|title=Top Swedish official backs Turkey for EU|publisher=[[International Herald Tribune]]|date=[[2006-12-11]]|url = http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/12/11/news/sweden.php|accessdate=2007-07-03}}</ref> Turkey is a strong regional power, with its history and also with its [[Turkish Armed Forces|armed forces]] that is second largest in NATO.<!--See [[List of countries by number of active troops]]. --> |
|||
=== Foreign relations === |
=== Foreign relations === |
||
Line 112: | Line 104: | ||
==== Armenia ==== |
==== Armenia ==== |
||
{{main|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.<ref>[http://europa.eu/bulletin/en/200207/p106005.htm Bulletin EU 7/8-2002: Common foreign and security policy (5/39)], European Commission on [[27 March]] 2003</ref> Officially, opening the Armenian border is not a pre-condition for accession. |
|||
[[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."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1335516,00.html|title=Prodi Urges Turkey to Reopen Armenian Border|accessdate=2007-04-13}}</ref> EU reports state that Turkey should take active measures to resolve this situation before eventual accession.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/archives/pdf/key_documents/2004/issues_paper_en.pdf |title=Enlargement issues - pg.8|format=PDF|accessdate=2007-04-13}}</ref> |
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.<ref>[http://europa.eu/bulletin/en/200207/p106005.htm Bulletin EU 7/8-2002: Common foreign and security policy (5/39)], European Commission on [[27 March]] 2003</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1335516,00.html|title=Prodi Urges Turkey to Reopen Armenian Border|accessdate=2007-04-13}}</ref> EU reports in 2004 state that Turkey should take active measures to resolve this situation before eventual accession.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/archives/pdf/key_documents/2004/issues_paper_en.pdf |title=Enlargement issues - pg.8|format=PDF|accessdate=2007-04-13}}</ref> |
||
Turkey has insisted{{fact}} that the route of the lucrative [[Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline]] bypass Armenian territory. According to [[Member of the European Parliament|MEP]] [[Joost Lagendijk|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.<ref name=euractiv200609>{{cite web|url=http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/parliament-report-puts-eu-turkey-relations-test/article-158280 |title=Parliament report puts EU-Turkey relations to the test |accessdate=2007-09-28 |date=2006-09-27 }}</ref> 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.{{fact}} |
|||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
{{See|Religion in Turkey|Secularism in Turkey}} |
|||
{{combi}} |
|||
|[[Image:Mawlana rumi.jpg|thumb|100px|[[Rumi]], a main influence on [[Sunni Islam]] in Turkey]] |
|||
|[[Image:Haci Bektas Veli.gif|thumb|100px|[[Haji Bektash]], a main influence on [[Alevi]]sm]] |
|||
|} |
|||
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> |
|||
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> |
|||
⚫ | [[Samuel P. Huntington]] regards Turkey as a split country in his book ''[[Clash of Civilizations]]'', which could drift off to [[Islamism]] and/or [[nationalism]] if European integration fails. [[Prime Minister of Turkey|Turkish Prime Minister]] [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]] has warned the EU that Turkey's rejection could provoke a "clash of civilizations".<ref name="economist1"/> In its March 2007 special report on the European Union, ''[[The Economist]]'' speculated that should Turkey be rebuffed by the EU, the Muslim world would perceive the EU as a "Christian club", not only damaging relations between the West and the Middle East while also alienating the fifteen million Muslims already living in EU member states.<ref name="economist2">{{cite news|last=Economist|first=The|publisher=[[The Economist]]|title=The ins and outs: The EU's most effective foreign-policy instrument has been enlargement. But how far can it go?|date=2007-03-17|url=http://www.economist.com/research/articlesBySubject/displaystory.cfm?subjectid=682266&story_id=8808134|accessdate=2007-07-04}}</ref> |
||
=== Effect upon the EU === |
=== Effect upon the EU === |
||
[[Image:Güher and Süher Pekinel.jpg|thumb|left|150px|[[Pekinel sisters]], world-renowned pianist twins]] |
|||
Upon joining the EU, Turkey's almost 70 million inhabitants would bestow it the second largest number of [[Member of the European Parliament|MEP]]s in the [[European Parliament]].<ref name="economist2"/> Demographic projections indicate Turkey would surpass Germany in number of seats by 2020.<ref name="economist2"/> In January 2005, the Turkish [[Justice and Development Party (Turkey)|AKP]] approached the [[European People's Party]] and was admitted as an observer-member. |
Upon joining the EU, Turkey's almost 70 million inhabitants would bestow it the second largest number of [[Member of the European Parliament|MEP]]s in the [[European Parliament]].<ref name="economist2"/> Demographic projections indicate Turkey would surpass Germany in number of seats by 2020.<ref name="economist2"/> In January 2005, the Turkish [[Justice and Development Party (Turkey)|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,<ref name="economist2"/> 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. [[President of France|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."<ref name="sarkozyquote">{{cite web|url=http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=159133|title=Turkey has no place in EU: Sarkozy|accessdate=2007-04-13}}</ref> |
||
[[Image:Soprano Gencer.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Leyla Gencer]], known as ''"La Regina"'' (The Queen) in the opera world, is one of the greatest sopranos]] |
|||
⚫ | Turkey's membership would also affect future enlargement plans, especially the number of nations seeking EU membership,<ref name="economist2"/> 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 |
||
=== Article 301 === |
=== Article 301 === |
||
{{Main|Article 301}} |
{{Main|Article 301}} |
||
Opinions critical of the strongly nationalistic{{Who|date=August 2007}} line are regularly prosecuted under [[Article 301 (Turkish penal code)|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".<ref name="bbc3">{{cite news|last=Dymond|first=Jonny|title=EU blasts Turkish author's trial|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4243102.stm|publisher=BBC News|date=2005-09-13|accessdate=2007-07-06}}</ref> After the case was dropped three months later, Turkey's Foreign Minister [[Abdullah Gül]] indicated<ref name="gul301">{{cite news|last=BBC News staff|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4565466.stm|title=Turkey insult law 'may be dumped'|publisher=BBC News|date=2005-12-28|accessdate=2007-07-06}}</ref |
Opinions critical of the strongly nationalistic{{Who|date=August 2007}} line are regularly prosecuted under [[Article 301 (Turkish penal code)|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".<ref name="bbc3">{{cite news|last=Dymond|first=Jonny|title=EU blasts Turkish author's trial|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4243102.stm|publisher=BBC News|date=2005-09-13|accessdate=2007-07-06}}</ref> 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".<ref name="gul301">{{cite news|last=BBC News staff|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4565466.stm|title=Turkey insult law 'may be dumped'|publisher=BBC News|date=2005-12-28|accessdate=2007-07-06}}</ref> In September 2006, the European Parliament called for the abolition of laws, such as Article 301, "which threaten European free speech norms".<ref name="bbc2">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5385954.stm|title=New EU warning on Turkey reforms|publisher=BBC News|date=2006-09-27|accessdate=2007-07-08}}</ref> Article 301 states that ''"A person who publicly [[wiktionary:denigrate|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 === |
||
⚫ | 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".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/014-3006-043-02-07-902-20070208IPR02887-12-02-2007-2007-false/default_en.htm|title=Women's rights in Turkey: MEPs say improvements still needed|accessdate=2007-04-13}}</ref> |
||
[[Image:First female MPs of the Turkish Parliament (1935).jpg|thumb|right|220px|Eighteen female MPs joined the [[Turkish Parliament]] with the 1935 general elections, in a time when women in many European countries, including France, couldn't even vote. In 1993 [[Tansu Çiller]] became the first female [[List of Prime Ministers of Turkey|Prime Minister of Turkey]], more than a decade before [[Angela Merkel]] became the first female Chancellor of Germany]] |
|||
=== 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 objector]]s or give them an alternative to military service.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article656447.ece|title= Leading Turkish writer faces jail after incurring wrath of military|accessdate=2007-04-13}}</ref> |
|||
* Important groups in the European Parliament have urged Turkey to recognise the Armenian deaths in the Ottoman Empire during World War I as [[Armenian Genocide|genocide]]. Turkey acknowledges that many Armenians died, but says Turks died too, and that massacres were committed on both sides as a result of inter-ethnic violence and the wider world war.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6045182.stm|title=Q&A: Armenian 'genocide'||publisher=BBC News|date=2006-10-12|accessdate=2007-08-12}}</ref> 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. The European Union Parliament, by a majority of 391 to 96, stated that Turkey should recognise the Armenian genocide before it could join the European Union.{{Fact|date=August 2007}} This requirement was later dropped on [[27 September]] [[2006]] by the general assembly of the European Parliament by 429 votes in favour to 71 against, with 125 abstentions.<ref name="bbc2">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5385954.stm|title=New EU warning on Turkey reforms|publisher=BBC News|date=2006-09-27|accessdate=2007-07-08}}</ref> |
|||
==Public reactions== |
==Public reactions== |
Revision as of 07:26, 28 September 2007
|}
Turkey's formal application to join the European Community—the organization that has since developed into the European Union—was made on April 14th, 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 October 3, 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 April 14, 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 December 16, 2004 to start accession negotiations with Turkey from October 3, 2005. Despite an attempt by the Austrian government to offer Turkey 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.
- 2005, October - 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
- 2006, June - Chapter on Science and Research opened and closed.
- 2006, December - 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]
- 2007, March - Chapter on Enterprise and Industrial Regulations opened[15]
- 2007, June - 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]
Progress of negotiations
This article is part of a series about the |
Accession of Turkey to the European Union |
---|
Institutions
|
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
Turkey, a developed country, is the country with the seventh largest economy in the Council of Europe. Partly because of the Customs Union, the main trading partner of Turkey is EU (59% of exports and 52% of imports as of 2005).[17]
In 2004 and 2005, economic growth was above 7%,[18] almost four times higher than average growth in the EU.[19] 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 high unemployment.[20]
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 EU member states, and about four times as large as the ones in Bulgaria and Romania.[21][22]
The opening of talks about the Economic and Monetary Policy acquis chapter of Turkey's accession bid was expected to begin in June 2007, but talks were stalled by France.[23]
Population
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.[24] Turkish population (72.6 million in 2007) is relatively young, with 25.5% falling within the 0–15 age bracket.[25] This might act as a balance for the increasingly aging populations of the current EU.[who?]
Immigration
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
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.[26] Turkey's area, inclusive of lakes, occupies 783,562[27] 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,[26] 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."[28] Turkey is a strong regional power, with its history and also with its armed forces that is second largest in NATO.
Foreign relations
Cyprus
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
Greece has been supportive overall of Turkish membership, with Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis declaring, "Full compliance, full accession" in December 2006.[29] In 2005 the European Commission referred to relations between Turkey and Greece as "continuing to develop positively"[30] while also citing the lack of progress made by Turkey in dropping their claim of casus belli over a dispute about territorial waters boundaries.[30]
Armenia
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.[31] 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."[32] EU reports in 2004 state that Turkey should take active measures to resolve this situation before eventual accession.[33]
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.[34] 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
|
|
|} 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,[35] of whom a majority belong to the Sunni branch of Islam. A sizeable minority of the population is affiliated with the Alevi sect.[36]
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.[37]
Samuel P. Huntington regards Turkey as a split country in his book Clash of Civilizations, which could drift off to Islamism and/or nationalism if European integration fails. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has warned the EU that Turkey's rejection could provoke a "clash of civilizations".[19] In its March 2007 special report on the European Union, The Economist speculated that should Turkey be rebuffed by the EU, the Muslim world would perceive the EU as a "Christian club", not only damaging relations between the West and the Middle East while also alienating the fifteen million Muslims already living in EU member states.[9]
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 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. 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."[38]
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".[39] 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".[40] In September 2006, the European Parliament called for the abolition of laws, such as Article 301, "which threaten European free speech norms".[41] 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
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".[42]
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.[43]
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 European territory and out of the European institutions). These communities are even more in favour of the accession than the Turkish populace itself (pro: 54%).[44]
In Turkey
The opening of membership talks with the EU in December 2004 was celebrated by Turkey with much fanfare,[19] 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.[45]
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[46] 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).[47] 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.[48]
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."[49]
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.[50]
See also
References
- ^ EurActiv: EU-Turkey Relations
- ^ "Ottoman Empire." Britannica Student Encyclopedia. 2007. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 19 Apr. 2007 http://www.britannica.com/ebi/article-206012
- ^ a b Turkish Embassy.org - Republic of Turkey. "Turkey and EU". Retrieved 2007-07-04.
- ^ Council of Europe (2006-10-27). "Turkey and the Council of Europe". Council of Europe. Retrieved 2006-10-30.
- ^ NATO. "Greece and Turkey accede to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation". NATO. Retrieved 2006-10-30.
- ^ Turkish Embassy.org - Republic of Turkey. "Turkish Embassy, Turkey and EU". Retrieved 2007-04-13.
- ^ Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in London. "About Turkey and the EU". Retrieved 2007-07-04.
- ^ ""Turkey's Ruling Party Marks Its 3rd Anniversary". Retrieved 2007-05-06.
- ^ a b c d e Economist, The (2007-03-17). "The ins and outs: The EU's most effective foreign-policy instrument has been enlargement. But how far can it go?". The Economist. Retrieved 2007-07-04.
- ^ Turkey targets 2013 for EU legal compliance euobserver.com
- ^ declines to endorse 2013 date for Turkey's EU entry euobserver.com
- ^ "Interview with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on BBC Sunday AM" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-04-13.
- ^ Turkish Embassy, Turkey and EU
- ^ EU resumes Turkey accession talks, BBC, 2007-03-29, accessed on 2007-03-29
- ^ EU-Turkey to re-start entry talks, EUPolitix.com, 2007-03-29, accessed on 2007-03-29
- ^ Turkish Entry Into Europe Slowed by Sarkozy Move, New York Times, 2007-06-25, accessed on 2007-06-25
- ^ Turkish Statistical Institute (2006-11-30). "Foreign Trade Statistics as of October 2006". Turkish Statistical Institute. Retrieved 2006-12-11.
- ^ "European Commission--Turkey-Economic Profile". Retrieved 2007-06-06.
- ^ a b c Economist, The (2006-12-07). "The ever lengthening road". The Economist. Retrieved 2007-07-04.
- ^ "CIA World Factbook - Turkey". Retrieved 2007-04-13.
- ^ Regnard, Pierre (September 2006). "Eurostat: Minimum Wages 2006" (PDF). Eurostat. Retrieved 2007-09-28.
- ^ "Türkiye'de asgari ücret yüksek çıktı". CNN Türk (in Turkish). 13 July 2006. Retrieved 2007-09-28.
{{cite news}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help) - ^ "Turkey unhappy at EU talks delay". BBC News. 2007-06-26. Retrieved 2007-07-03.
{{cite news}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ http://www.eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:52006DC0571:EN:NOT
- ^ Intute (2006-07). "Turkey - Population and Demographics". Intute. Retrieved 2006-12-10.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=
(help) - ^ a b US Library of Congress. "Geography of Turkey". US Library of Congress. Retrieved 2006-12-13.
- ^ UN Demographic Yearbook, accessed April 16, 2007
- ^ Ekman, Ivar (2006-12-11). "Top Swedish official backs Turkey for EU". International Herald Tribune. Retrieved 2007-07-03.
{{cite news}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ Panagopoulis, A. (2006-12-18). "Karamanlis Hails EU's 'Historic' Decision to Admit Bulgaria, Romania". Greek News. Retrieved 2007-04-13.
{{cite news}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ a b "Turkey - 2005 Progress Report" (PDF) (Press release). European Commission. 2005-08-11. Retrieved 2007-07-06.
{{cite press release}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ Bulletin EU 7/8-2002: Common foreign and security policy (5/39), European Commission on 27 March 2003
- ^ "Prodi Urges Turkey to Reopen Armenian Border". Retrieved 2007-04-13.
- ^ "Enlargement issues - pg.8" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-04-13.
- ^ "Parliament report puts EU-Turkey relations to the test". 2006-09-27. Retrieved 2007-09-28.
- ^ "Social values, Science and Technology" (PDF). Eurobarometer. June 2005. Retrieved 2006-12-19.
- ^ Shankland, David (2003). The Alevis in Turkey: The Emergence of a Secular Islamic Tradition. Routledge (UK). ISBN 0-7007-1606-8.
- ^ British Broadcasting Corporation (2003-10-29). "Headscarf row goes to Turkey's roots". BBC News. Retrieved 2006-12-13.
- ^ "Turkey has no place in EU: Sarkozy". Retrieved 2007-04-13.
- ^ Dymond, Jonny (2005-09-13). "EU blasts Turkish author's trial". BBC News. Retrieved 2007-07-06.
- ^ BBC News staff (2005-12-28). "Turkey insult law 'may be dumped'". BBC News. Retrieved 2007-07-06.
- ^ "New EU warning on Turkey reforms". BBC News. 2006-09-27. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ "Women's rights in Turkey: MEPs say improvements still needed". Retrieved 2007-04-13.
- ^ "Leading Turkish writer faces jail after incurring wrath of military". Retrieved 2007-04-13.
- ^ "European Commission: Special Eurobarometer 255 - Attitudes towards EU Enlargement., July 2006, p. 72" (PDF). Retrieved 2006-09-05.
- ^ "New Eurobarometer poll results show a drop in Turkish support for the EU". Retrieved 2007-04-13.
- ^ "LOI constitutionnelle n° 2005-204 du 1er mars 2005 modifiant le titre XV de la Constitution" (in French). Retrieved 2007-04-13.
- ^ "Deal struck over Turkey-EU talks". Retrieved 2007-04-13.
- ^ "Zaman, Javno.hr - 23/07/07; DPA, Reuters - 22/07/07".
- ^ "Final Progress Report for Turkey" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-04-13.
- ^ "EU urged to freeze Turkey talks". Retrieved 2007-04-13.
External links
- Official Turkey Government site for EU accession
- Failure of the talks 'would betray Turks and Europe'
- Time to talk to Turkey
- The case for Turkey
- We need Turkey
- We must not turn our back on our best Muslim ally
- "Middle East Needs Turkey's EU Membership", Ayse Hakim, JTW
- "U.S. Diplomat: Turkey's EU Aspirations Can Inspire Muslims", Vince Crawley, The Washington File
- Turkish illegal restrictive measures against Cyprus and European Union shipping
- Human Rights Watch on Turkey
- Turkishpolitix.com - the gateway to Turkish affairs (with up-to-date dossier on EU-Turkey relations)
- Regime change, European-style, is a measure of our civilisation
- Turkey and the European Union
- EU report on Issues arising from Turkey's membership perspective
- "Turkey-EU Relations: If Turkey Says No!"
- Foreign Affairs - Turkey's Dreams of Accession
- Greece's Shifting Position on Turkish Accession to the EU Before and After Helsinki (1999)
- Europe's reasons and Turkey's Accession (ARI)
- ZEI EU-Turkey-Monitor - Newsletter to monitor accession negotiations
- European Press Review: E.U. Snubs Turkey (Views about Turkish EU membership from London, Paris, Frankfurt, Athens, Berlin, Munich, Vienna, Hamburg, Turin, and Zurich)
- "Turkey Apprehensive Over EU Crises", by Jonathan Gorvett, Aljazeera
- http://www.soros.org/resources/articles_publications/publications/turkey_2004901/english.pdf
- 20 Myths and Facts about Enlargement (Official EU website)
- The Political Criteria of Copenhagen and their application to Turkey