2007-12-18 16:27:41 · 22 answers · asked by Loly Pop 3 in Politics & Government ➔ International Organizations
Don't we have enough turkeys in the EU? But seriously, I can't say I'm thrilled about it. I have serious trouble accepting Turkey as a European country, since more than half of their landmass is located in Asia, and they're, while officially secularist, largely Islamic (99.8%), which let's be honest, doesn't sit well with predominately Christian European countries, especially with the reputations Muslims have recently earned in countries like the Netherlands, France and the United Kingdom.
That said, they're not exactly on the same tier as European countries economically, and their human rights record is far from good, and remains questionable. Plus, their refusal to acknowledge Cyprus, an EU member state doesn't help either, not to mention their long antagonistic relationship with Greece, another EU member state.
Edit: PFuller, there's a reason we call it the EUROPEAN Union. Not being European should disqualify you from joining the Union, and if you did your homework, you would known that Morocco, a non-European country which applied for membership in the EU was shot down in 1987, for that exact reason. And for your information, Romania and Bulgaria are already part of the Union, and have been so for nearly a year.
2007-12-18 16:32:16 · answer #1 · answered by S P 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Turkey has always been a part of political Europe and it has a good economy and it has a government at least as stable as Greece (who also has the Orthodox Catholic Church as an official part of government). It makes sense for them to be a part of it. The difficulties are that its army is the protecter of secularism and that doesn't sit well with some plus the free borders that joining would mandate means anyone that gains entry to Turkey can cross into the rest of Europe. Again, Greece has had several military dictatorships and that hasn't affected their being a part of it so that should not be a problem with Turkey. The easy access for radical Islamic terrorists IS a legitimate concern, however. Until that issue can be resolved, Europe would be better off not including Turkey in their trade block.
2007-12-19 00:43:59 · answer #2 · answered by Caninelegion 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Turkey has a strong economy and I really do not see any problem as long as it meets the strict criteria fo membership of the EU. It is an Eurasian republic with a unique blend of Western and Eastern traditions and it might have a much needed influence on Western culture. My concern is that I would like to see an acceptance by the Turkish government that the Armenian people were treated very badly by the Turks in the early part of the 20th century. There have been accusations of genocide and this problem needs to be resolved.
2007-12-19 05:07:42 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
The EU and Turkey enjoy a deep trade relationship. Indeed, the EU ranks by far as number one in both Turkey's imports and exports while Turkey ranks 7th in the EU's top import and 5th in export markets At the Helsinki summit in December .
1999 Turkey was given the status of a candidate country.
2007-12-19 00:45:50 · answer #4 · answered by mr perfect 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The EU cannot chicken out or duck the game of turkey joining them. But it gives the EU a better boundary with Asia and the Middle East.
2007-12-19 01:51:00 · answer #5 · answered by Zheia 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
I think Turkey should resist joining the EU.
2007-12-19 00:38:13 · answer #6 · answered by megnalon 4 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Why not just have a 'union of a bunch of countries who believe in strength in numbers, open borders, and world globalisation' -- what's the point of the Euro part? That's hilarious.
And if "easy access for radical Islamic terrorists is a legitimate concern", I can't imagine the EU letting the UK in.
2007-12-19 01:14:41 · answer #7 · answered by pgb 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Who else are going to join the EU? maybe parts of Africa?, or the Middle-East? This EU thing is going to eventually implode with all the corruption, greed, the lust for power and beaurocracy and end up exactly how the USSR did not so long ago.
2007-12-19 03:52:42 · answer #8 · answered by tom_p1980 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋
I don't get it. Only about 2% of Turkey is in Europe.
2007-12-19 00:35:43 · answer #9 · answered by DOOM 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
I'm from the U.S., so my vote means nothing, but it seems to me the arguments given which would pretty much permanently disqualify them (not European, Muslim) are lousy reasons. They should make a lot of changes before they are allowed in, but Europe would be better off if they were encouraged instead of discouraged. Honestly, could they really be much more problematical than Romania and Bulgaria?
2007-12-19 03:09:02 · answer #10 · answered by PFuller 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋