Why Turkey Should Not Join the EU
Aby April 7th, 2009
During the recently concluded US-EU summit in Prague, a little political tussle occured when the French President Nicolas Sarkozy rebuffed Obama’s recommendation that Turkey be inducted as a member of the European Union. While I understand the American President’s attempt at endearing himself to the Muslim world, Mr. Sarkozy stance against Turkey’s immediate admission to the EU was quite valid as a European concern.
A news video showing Barack Obama’s clash with Sarkozy in the EU summit.
While Turkey might be amongst the most moderate Muslim-majority nations, it still lags miles behind the European levels of secularlism, tolerance and human rights record of the past 50 years. Despite the progresses made in the last few decades, Turkey still remains a country pretty hostile to the idea of religious tolerance and freedom of speech. Till very recently, Turkey has been bringing up objections to Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the Danish Prime Minister, from becoming the next NATO Secretary-General. The Turkish argument was that Mr. Rasmussen wasn’t suitable for the post because he did not offer an apology for cartoons of the ‘Prophet’ Muhammad published in a Danish newspaper in 2005 (which is hypocritic considering that the Turkish leadership never recognised, let alone apologise, the Armenian Holocaust of the early 1900s). On a more active front, Turkey has been strifling its Kurdish minority for years. Turkish Christians are not treated on par with Muslims when it comes to rights to practicing their religion. The handful of churches that exist in Turkey today are either places of historical significance or annexes of foreign embassies.
Beside the religious concerns outlined above, Turkey’s admission to the EU could also create a clash of economic and political differences. Its political conflicts with Greece and Cyprus could become the next European headache, threatening the already strained stability of the European Union. In addition to this, as a member with the smallest economy, Turkey will also create a drag on the EU economy, far more than the effect of Poland, Lithuania and Romania’s admission to the EU. It could also become a corridor for migrants from North Africa and the Arab world to gain a backdoor entry to Europe.
Unless all the above (and additional) concerns are smoothened out between Turkey and Europe, admitting Turkey would be an extremely premature and self-destructive move for the EU. This is the part President Sarkozy and Chancellor Markel got right.
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Isn’t it for Europe to decide who joins the EU? Why does Obama poke his nose where it doesn’t belong?
As much as I criticise some of Sarko’s policies, I am with him and the rest of Europe on this one. Why on earth should EU admit Turkey into its fold, when it hasn’t even met the preconditions of being a EU member state? This is just Americans trying to dump their mess on to an unwilling Europe, to make up to the Muslims for the illegal invasion of Iraq.
I am totally agree with in the sense that EU should not allow Turkey to be a member of EU. Not untill the have a separationg of State-Religion.
I think that USA does not understand the muslin mentality, how the think or view themself within or outside their religion.
As an american I see the need to democratize a muslin country(any) but we won’t see that happen any time soon, muslin live their life by muslin religion they can not separate themself from it.
I apoligize if I offend any muslin believer., but I see muslin religion like the Catholic religion of the 1st century when people were not allow to speak of God or say what they think about God without fearing of being charge with blasfemy.
I think E.U needs to Turkey to be a power in the world.Turkey has growing economy and a powerable army( 6.biggest economy in Europe and second biggest army in NATO) ,this country has been effective in the middle east ,Turks started novigations between Syria and Israel and between Pakistan and Afganistan also Turkey is an important bridge on energy ways. I think Turkey does not want to be membershio of E.U ,it is only kind of role playing , Turkey keeps to be with U.S against to E.U. If we consider, E.U was established against to U.S , E.U can not accept that TURKEY-U.S in E.U and Turkey does not want,too.
By the way, i think E.U becomes weak day by day, E.U does not behave like an Union.
We have seen it clerly in that the last financial crisis, all countries have been acting in different ways ,France and Germany think different. They declared” Every country must find a way to rid of the crisis,” instead of to find out it “together.” France wants to be with U.S ,not E.U. Morever,U.K is tottaly different then the others.
To sum up, Turkey can not join to E.U becase there is no E.U.
I think your arguments partly disagree with your statement.
Yes Turkey is Muslim country if you say rest of the Europe is Christian. This is criteria based on the belief of population. But the government in Turkey has no religion, it is secular as stated in Turkish Constitution. Turkey has been practicising liberal economy and democracy more than 70 years. Considering Balkan countries and excommunist countries this is a huge experience. It is one of the first country (even before France) to give voting right to women.
Yes, i partly agree your statement on Rasmussen incident, but Turkey has his Muslim Democrats as well EU has its Christian Democrats. Believe me, there are worst incidents created by Christian Democrats.
If you look into the history, before joining the EU Turkey-Greece-Italy_Spain were nearly at same socio economic and democratic conditions.
If you ask my view as Turkish citizen, i do not care much about joining EU. I earn well above EU standard, I am happy with my country, i like to travel and to see the world especially Europe, but i dislike Schengen visa. Other than tourist visa problem I don’t see any benefit from EU for Turkey.
Just because turkey is have more Muslim population, that’s Eu countries don’t want Turkey to join EU Union, suppose if, Turkey might be a Christian country filled with Roman catholic then, they will easily approve it. That the harsh reality. So if turkey wants to join Eu than all Muslims should convert to Christianity.
There seems to me to be a problem with muslim cultural isolationism. So if muslims are going to participate in globalization process the logical starting place would be in the secular state of Turkey. Many of the bloggers are right Turkey differs vastly from many countries if not all of the European countries in political, social, and religious areas. The fact that the state of Turkey selects priest for thier religious positions is concerning. However, this induction into the EU should not be seen as a end of a political, social, and cultural process. The induction should be seen as a begining. If there is any concern about the capacity for the muslim country to get along with other members of the the UN this should not be of a great concern. The fact is that many countires in the EU argue a lot already. I guess they would just have one more thing to argue about and possibly the inclusion of new prespecitves. Immigration is a problem for Europe, their concerns are valid. However, migration population patterns and trade along with monitary consistancy throughout the region are seperate issues.
Turkey should be permitted to enter the E.U, inspite of the rule against religion and many human rights violations. European Union, while not a labelled a federalist state, quite closely functions like one, and there are many arguments inclining to favour the existence and functions as a federalist state for all the member countries.
The legislation of the European Union in all those areas that which it has acquired jurisdiction permit EU law to override national law, such that of the European Communities Act 1972 (UK), upon any conflict.
The other important aspect is that EU legislation to take effect and precedence into the member country, and scrutiny in parliament thereof. This fostering of democratic ideals, and a majority “common sense” supervision will allow a pathway for Turkey to develop and blend into mainstream Europe. Default against implementing and following EU rules and regulations can have Turkey eliminated from membership (although this in itself is another process) but Turkey fully understands that it needs the EU more than the EU needs Turkey.
Turkey has quite a large population with alot of suffering amongst the people. Inflation is at extremes and poverty profound. In this day and age, permission need be granted, an opportunity for a country like Turkey to demonstrate itself on the international stage as an effective and disciplined participant. EU does not have anything to lose, as said earlier, Turkey can be eliminated from membership if found to neglecting the promises to effect and upkeep while a member.
“While Turkey might be amongst the most moderate Muslim-majority nations, it still lags miles behind the European levels of secularlism [sic]”
Turkey is the one of most secular countries in the world, way more secular than France.
Pretty cool post. I just stumbled upon your site and wanted to say that I have really liked reading your posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!
hi friends!!! regarding the question of a berth in EU for turkey i feel she has done enough for the western needs (fighting US war in iraq,syria and israel negotiations,pakistan and afganistan integrity).this is of course not far more enough to grant a membership for EU .but like some of our friends mentioning “freedom of expression doesn’t exist in musilm states” this is really absurd.turkey is a modernised musilm state.its up to them whether to have a handful of churches on their soil,reject them from becoming a member of EU is a damn shit. this shows the un-secular views of European UNION leaders.ok if anyone of this blog wanna oppose my views, i would like u friends furnish the essential qualities for a country to become a member of EU. then lets continue the debate,then lets see which nation is essential and which nation should satnd at the door step.
you people are idiots turkey has been secular since 1924 , the reason why the state selects imams or priests is to avoid extremists getting to positions of social influence , the state removes licences from prechers that preach ultra conservative doctrines and select liberal imams who dont preach against the secular state etc turkey is more secular than france it has no islamic law its legal sysytem is based on swiss and german law and it gave WOMEN THE VOTE before france and britain did
KEEP OUT
I believe people should not voice their opinions on political matters if they can not spell or type a correct and complete sentence on the matter at hand.
^^^
then you must look at your name — irony ! aint it? lol
Only being 14, I’d have to say that my world view isn’t completely developed yet… but it seems to me that a moderate, secular country with a muslim majority joining the EU could have a positive impact on relations with many Middle Eastern states, as well as making the EU more representative. Of course, with most of the Eurosceptics in my country also being Islamophobic, there will be a backlash, but in the long run getting many countries to join the EU should be very beneficial.
Just my opinion. I’d be curious to know what others think (:
Hahah, too be most honest, i dont really give two shxts about the EU, I mean why should i ? i only just learnt about what the EU were 2 weeks ago ! & Now i have to right a 3 page essay on the arguments for, and against. Listen, im not intrested in this kinda stuff, political or not, but i just wanted too say thanks so much for your comments, cause now i have something to write about ! (:
I will simply say look ahead and stop showing disliking or ebven hatred to another country which has done so much for Nato.
Read the European history and who would have thought German and France could be friend and allies.
So be positive and be focused and embrace changes with happiness and open arms.
While the countries are choosing sides before the next world crissis we will witness , European countries have to realize that Turkey is not a small , insignificant country and pushing them away simply means ” if Turkey is not with you , it will be against you”.
Turkey is : the 6th biggest economy in Europe , has more than 25 million work force , 80 million population , it is one of the biggest ecomonical partners of EU already , founding memeber of the Islamic Countries Organization , in the middle of the energy routes , second biggest army in the NATO , and a huge open market for European producers. In other words Turkey can not be ignored.
On the other hand Europe , while being divided in every simple way possible and very old population and decreasing work force , needs new blood. A new identity to be able to be a world power. Only 60 years ago EU countries were trying to exterminate each other , and showed this world the biggest violences in the history. Today talking about human rights and preaching Turkey sounds a bit ironic.
By pushing away Turkey from the EU , Europeans must realize that Europe will clearly declare that they are against Islam and the actualy freedom of speech nor the freedom to practice religion do not exist in EU countries which will eventually cause extremist movements in Europe and cut the dialogue which we all need between these two big religions.
On the contrary to the European prejudice , most Turks are only after the freedom of travel between Turkey and other European countries , believing that a Turk would leave Turkey to freeze in the street of Copenhagen or Berlin , is nothing but a naive. The friendly culture in the country and the sunny weather is something Turks would never leave behind. If you believe that Oslo is a better place to live in than Antalya or Amsterdam is more beautiful than Bodrum , or Berlin has more to offer than Istanbul than I suggest you to go and visit these cities once again.
Aby, to have more open discussion your question should be WHY TURKEY SHOULD JOIN EU….
now that you made point why Turkey should not join, it clearly shows your narrow mind that you dont want a Muslim majority country with EU….
Religious BIAS