Prime Minister Erdogan visited Brussels last month for the first time in four years, with the aim of resuscitating his country's chances of joining the EU. However, are his efforts doomed to fail as EU leaders face arguably more urgent questions about their economies than whether they should admit Turkey to the Union?
Europe's World TV
Doris Pack MEPChairwoman of European Parliament's Delegation for Relations with the Countries of South-East Europe
John Monks Secretary General of the European Trade Union confederation (ETUC)
Androulla Vassiliou European Commissioner for Health
Franz Fischler, Fmr. European Commissioner for Agriculture & Fisheries
Alojz Peterle MEP & former Prime Minister of Slovenia
Re:Has the Erdogan visit to Brussels got Turkey’s EU bid back on track? Or will the economic crisis condemn it to remaining a sideshow? Prime Minister Erdogan's recent visit to Brussels is a great sign of his government's determination on its goal of EU accession.Despite the current economic situation,Turkey and EU will maintain to share a common future based on mutual interests,considering Turkey's increasing importance as a regional and global actor.On this basis, Turkey and EU have a big tendency to get closer assuming their shared accountabilities.
Prime Minister Erdogan's recent visit to Brussels is a great sign of his government's determination on its goal of EU accession.Despite the current economic situation,Turkey and EU will maintain to share a common future based on mutual interests,considering Turkey's increasing importance as a regional and global actor.On this basis, Turkey and EU have a big tendency to get closer assuming their shared accountabilities.
Re:Has the Erdogan visit to Brussels got Turkey’s EU bid back on track? Or will the economic crisis condemn it to remaining a sideshow? The accession negotiations with Turkey should not be pursued by either side. There are plenty of other things Europe can do with Turkey. Turkey's accession would be counterproductive and bring imbalance both at the high decision levels in the EU and in social and cultural cohesion in our suburbs at the lower levels. The accession might have been a goal in Ataturks lifetime. Now it is clear that countries can modernize without europeanization. Turkey has no need to be "anchored"It is insulting to say otherwise of that great active countryDr Anton Smitsendonkfr Netherlands Ambassador,fr Counselor in the Neth Embassy in Ankara. See http:\www.voices-of-europe.org:
The accession negotiations with Turkey should not be pursued by either side. There are plenty of other things Europe can do with Turkey. Turkey's accession would be counterproductive and bring imbalance both at the high decision levels in the EU and in social and cultural cohesion in our suburbs at the lower levels. The accession might have been a goal in Ataturks lifetime. Now it is clear that countries can modernize without europeanization. Turkey has no need to be "anchored"It is insulting to say otherwise of that great active countryDr Anton Smitsendonkfr Netherlands Ambassador,fr Counselor in the Neth Embassy in Ankara. See http:\www.voices-of-europe.org:
Re:Has the Erdogan visit to Brussels got Turkey’s EU bid back on track? Or will the economic crisis condemn it to remaining a sideshow? I would be very surprised if the current financial crisis adversely effects Turkey's candidacy in the long run. On the contrary, the scale of the current troubles have highlighted the need for cross-border economic cooperation. As the recession remorselessly spills over borders, all countries have a stake in the actions of their neighbours. If anything the EU and the acquis seems more relevant today than ever. Bringing Turkey into this same system of economic rules and cooperation will be of great benefit to all Europeans both inside and outside the Union.Unfortunately, the financial crisis will do little to solve the much greatest challenges of Turkey's bid which are not economic in nature, especially the Cyprus dispute.
I would be very surprised if the current financial crisis adversely effects Turkey's candidacy in the long run. On the contrary, the scale of the current troubles have highlighted the need for cross-border economic cooperation. As the recession remorselessly spills over borders, all countries have a stake in the actions of their neighbours. If anything the EU and the acquis seems more relevant today than ever. Bringing Turkey into this same system of economic rules and cooperation will be of great benefit to all Europeans both inside and outside the Union.Unfortunately, the financial crisis will do little to solve the much greatest challenges of Turkey's bid which are not economic in nature, especially the Cyprus dispute.
Re:Has the Erdogan visit to Brussels got Turkey’s EU bid back on track? Or will the economic crisis condemn it to remaining a sideshow? Hardly. As long as the European Union is called "European" it is hard to conceive how could a country that neither is located in Europe, nor has a population with European values become a member. We are still facing some of the problems created by Turkey when it was a power intruding into Europe, centuries ago. Does anybody need more?
Hardly. As long as the European Union is called "European" it is hard to conceive how could a country that neither is located in Europe, nor has a population with European values become a member. We are still facing some of the problems created by Turkey when it was a power intruding into Europe, centuries ago. Does anybody need more?
Re:Has the Erdogan visit to Brussels got Turkey’s EU bid back on track? Or will the economic crisis condemn it to remaining a sideshow? Europe is expanding, while it already has 27 members. This fact combined with the rejection of the European Constitution and the ongoing work concerning the Lisbon Treaty, tells us that the EU and its institutions need remodelling to keep the organization flexible and workable.If changes will be met, the accession of Turkey must be taken in account. Because of these changes the possible imbalance can be circumvented.On the other hand, we should focus more on the advantages that Turkey will bring to the EU. For example the EU will become a global actor, instead of a regional actor with limited scope. With the accession of Turkey, the EU can strengthen its position in the Middle East and the Caucasus. These are points that need to be considered too.
Europe is expanding, while it already has 27 members. This fact combined with the rejection of the European Constitution and the ongoing work concerning the Lisbon Treaty, tells us that the EU and its institutions need remodelling to keep the organization flexible and workable.If changes will be met, the accession of Turkey must be taken in account. Because of these changes the possible imbalance can be circumvented.On the other hand, we should focus more on the advantages that Turkey will bring to the EU. For example the EU will become a global actor, instead of a regional actor with limited scope. With the accession of Turkey, the EU can strengthen its position in the Middle East and the Caucasus. These are points that need to be considered too.
Re:Has the Erdogan visit to Brussels got Turkey’s EU bid back on track? Or will the economic crisis condemn it to remaining a sideshow? The argument that Turkey’s membership to the EU will distort the stability and cohesion of the Union is a popular yet an ungrounded one. As the only candidate country that has entered into a Customs Union with the EU before accession; as the 17th biggest economy in the world and ranking among the 10 most important emerging markets, which has more than half of her foreign trade with the EU (110 billion USD) and moreover as the EU’s 7th trade partner, Turkey is already a net contributor to the EU economy.Also, it has been a while since the EU is meddling with the vague concept of integration capacity. It is the Union’s own responsibility to strengthen its integration capacity and realize the long-needed institutional reforms in order to sustain its mere existence instead of using it as a pretext against Turkey’s membership. Lastly, surely Turkey as an active country and a rational actor in the field of international relations, is well cognizant of the moves and perspectives that lie ahead of her. Among these, from Ataturk’s time onwards EU membership has been the most prominent one, one was declared as a state policy and as such has always been on the agenda irrespective of the changing governments and conjunctures. Turkey with her young and dynamic population, geo-strategic location as a transit energy hub and a strong regional actor should not just be “anchored” but rather become an “indispensable part” of the EU. And to this end, negotiations should be speeded up.
The argument that Turkey’s membership to the EU will distort the stability and cohesion of the Union is a popular yet an ungrounded one. As the only candidate country that has entered into a Customs Union with the EU before accession; as the 17th biggest economy in the world and ranking among the 10 most important emerging markets, which has more than half of her foreign trade with the EU (110 billion USD) and moreover as the EU’s 7th trade partner, Turkey is already a net contributor to the EU economy.Also, it has been a while since the EU is meddling with the vague concept of integration capacity. It is the Union’s own responsibility to strengthen its integration capacity and realize the long-needed institutional reforms in order to sustain its mere existence instead of using it as a pretext against Turkey’s membership. Lastly, surely Turkey as an active country and a rational actor in the field of international relations, is well cognizant of the moves and perspectives that lie ahead of her. Among these, from Ataturk’s time onwards EU membership has been the most prominent one, one was declared as a state policy and as such has always been on the agenda irrespective of the changing governments and conjunctures. Turkey with her young and dynamic population, geo-strategic location as a transit energy hub and a strong regional actor should not just be “anchored” but rather become an “indispensable part” of the EU. And to this end, negotiations should be speeded up.
What do YOU think? Please leave your comments at the end of the article
Over 150 think tanks and universities across Europe contribute authors and ideas to Europe’s World. This section showcases their own publications and reports and is also a bulletin board for their upcoming events.
What do YOU think are the key policy problems that Europe must resolve? What ideas need a Europe-wide airing? This section is open to your contributions.