Do the Turkish people want to join EU? Read carefully and if you wish explain...?

Question

This is a question that pop up in a gathering between Greeks. (I thought I might put it in the forum as well):

Suppose that Turkey is a very rich, powerful and technologically very advanced nation. And Europe is nothing but a group of poor nations struggling to survive.

Would Turkish people still feel Europeans and would still want to associate with the rest of Europe? Would they still support Europe? Even more: would they spend their money to help Europe?

I am wondering whether the option of Turkish people joining the EU is just a matter of pride (being with the richest and more advanced makes sense), a benefit (get the EU funds) or a cultural bond (being with Europe in bad and good times; we cannot be anything else) that makes most Turks want to join EU (still the majority but it rapidly declines I guess).

Another question was also why the Greeks support the Turks in EU. But we knew the answer to that one...

Greetings to all my Turkish friends!

Answer 1

I try to be objective.

Location;
You are asking this question Travel, Europe, Turkey. As a location we are more close Europe than Cyprus.

Economy ;
Turkey is not a poor country like Bulgaria . But our huge population will be a problem for EU. When we join the EU there will be a lot of Turk parliamentary because of population.
EU need natural gas and oil. Turkey is a bridge to carry these in safety way.

Defense :
Turkey protected Europa in the cold war times against an attack of Russian military power. It was a huge power. If their tanks had walk there were no power to stop them in EU.
Today EU also need our military power.

People ;
We don't want unpaid money . Turkish people likes living with their honor. Other way they prefer to die.

In Italian language ''Milano labore , Roma mancare'' I mean EU works, Turkey eats. We don't want this. We say work together and eat together.

Answer 2

I assume you are Greek, or living in Greece. You have a reasoning for yourself, which sounds logical.
Try to find some reasonable answers to why EU wants Turkey, and how much EU will benefit from this membership.
Surely, both sides will benefit from this union. As someone explained below, when Greece, Spain, and Portugal joined EU their economies and democracies were not as developed as they are now. They have benefited greatly from becoming members. I know many Greeks who say that deep inside they feel Greek, not Europeans.
Turks (Ottomans) helped those in need in the past. There is nothing wrong with that.
I also know why Greece wants Turkey in the EU: They believe Turkey will no longer be a threat to them. Actually she is not. Greeks somehow 'believe' that Turkey is a threat. Turkey does not want anything from Greece but friendship. On the contrary some Greeks (I hope they are a small minority) want some land from Turkey (Istanbul and Izmır). These are silly points to discuss in the 21st Century.
Another question to be asked (and answered) is, why are the Europeans so scared of Turkey's membership? Are they afraid that 70 million people will rush into their countries? That would be silly. When Turkey's economy is good enough to join EU, why would Turks leave their sunny country and go to work in cold Germany and Denmark? Quite the opposite, maybe western Europeans will go and work in Turkey. They are already buying houses there.
We need to get rid of those old biases that imprison our minds.

One word to ArteGR. What did Turkey do to you during the war? You mean WW II? When Turkey sent you food and bullets to fight Hitler? Or do you mean the Greco-Turkish war in 1922? Wasn't that when the Greek Army tried to invade Turkey and lost? As for Cyprus; why didn't Greek Cypriots say YES to Annan plan, so the Turkish Army would have left in a couple of years? Go and learn some history please.

Answer 3

You have a valid point here. I can only say what I think:

Being a part of an economically advanced club is beneficial. Noone would deny that.

But, more important than that, Westernizing these lands has been an important goal even before the republic was founded. The sultans of a declining Ottoman empire thought Westernizing the kingdom could help with their problems. After the republic, our great leader thought heading towards the west is better than staying behind with the east. Who can oppose the wisdom of that?

The problem is, for Turks, the West wasn't all about economy. It was about humanity, culture and being in the lead in all advancements. Imagine our surprise and disillusionment when we realized that the West is only human for itself, cares only about its own culture and denigrate the rest, and especially, that Europe has started to fall behind in technology, education and stuff. Of course, these are only rough generalizations, but you cannot blame people for believing them. Just think how European people choose to believe rough and often misguided generalizations about our people.

As a result, we have fallen out of love with the European ideal. There are many of us who believe we can do better, and rightly, too. We DO have our problems arising from our geopolitical location, but problems are there to be solved.

We are a flowing river, the EU has started to look like a still pond, which can start rotting any time, if no fresh water arrives.

Answer 4

You seem to have put so much efforts to formulate your question. So I assume you ask it seriuosly.

Here's a serious answer:
The Greeks are the LAST right people to comment on Turkish people's preferences and choices. They do know know Turkey at all (that is, if they are not racist and anti-turco)

The answer to your question: The Turkish people wouldn't think that they are less precious or worthy than other people in the world. Although some of them do not favor a prospect of mmembership to EU,
EVERYONE in Turkey knows that -once Turkey has applied for full membership to EU in 1987 and its candidacy was once certified in 1999- any step less than full membership would mean an INSULT & HUMILIATION to Turkey and the Turkish nation.

THAT, my friend, is something the Turksh people wouldn't accept easliy...

Answer 5

You cant expect every Turkish citizen to want to join EU but the policies are made on the average person's demand and common benefit. So overall You could say that Turkey does want to join. I agree it ld be beneficial for Turkey but Greece, Spain, Portugal were all on the same boat as turkey today before they ve joined. Many other founding nations like germany, uk have made long arguments and made a few conditions before their membership.Was it beneficial for greece, spain? yes it was and so it will be for Turkey. I believe she ll join EU in 10 -15 yrs with special conditions first and full membership within another 10 yrs. the biggest problem with Turkeys application I believe ( apart from kurdish and cyprus) is her population. As Turkey ld be second biggest country after germany in the union if joined. thus after her economical improvements making Turkey a very powerful country and the worry of influx of labourers into Europe. some members already having problems with the newly joined another biggish country like Poland today. But overall Europe cannot afford to turn its back to Turkey and believe that Turkey joining is inevitable. Policies are not made on laypersons beliefs but much more complications. If you ask many Englishman in the street today they ld not ve wanted (say) Bulgaria to join EU this year. From their point of view all they saw is some under privileged Bulgarian workers doing the same job they do for a lot less! There s a wider gain and benefit for EU itself and member governments at the end

Answer 6

In Turkey , eu isn't popular ,in this day.
however , some of the politicians Turkish want join to eu, I don't understand why?(AKP-CHP-MHP-DP-GP)
Turkish citizen says "no usa no eu independent TÜRKİYE"
did you heard this slogan and know what means this slogan?
Why Turkish army is in contact with ChinesE and Russian army?
Some parties and Turkish army find an other solutions than eu!(shangai union!) .Did you heard this union?
After 22 july elections , in the 2 ord 3 years , in TÜRKİYE , the world change and sunshine realy from east .
Bye bye eu!
take yours self be carefully!

Answer 7

Dear Frank,

You are said; 'Another question was also why the Greeks support the Turks in EU. But we knew the answer to that one... '

Would you please explain a little bit ?
I mean, maybe I did not understand it, You are saying know the answer, so if you know the answer, why would you ask us ?

Regards

PS. Murat, I liked your answer. Congratulations !
Take Care of Yourself

Answer 8

No need to suppose if we were rich, powerful and etc. Even now I don't want to join EU.
Greetings to you too.

P.S. Agree with Bosphorus Babe.

Answer 9

Turkey will never get into the UN
Reason 1: They 1rst must let Cyprus free and they never will
Reason 2: No they will never feel Europeans cuz they just don't deserve it
And NO we the Greeks DO NOT support Turkey because of all they've done to us during the war
And, Man, Turkey is not a rich country
they are stuck back on time
I think you now realize that we don't like them at all!!!

Answer 10

I don't care about EU's money or power..We have power too.

I don't want to join EU.