Problems Facing Turkey on Entry to the European Union, Research Paper Example

Abstract

This paper will examine the proposed Turkish application for membership of the European Community or EU.  Turkey will be the first Islamic country to apply for membership of a Western Democratic Union and as such bridge a cultural divide between Eastern and Western values.  This will create a considerable amount of obstacles for the EU to overcome with the existing member states.  The paper is divided into four main parts: (i)  Examination of the Historical background of the EU and Turkey.  Consideration of the objectives for the EU and how these align with Turkeys ambitions for a European partnership; (ii) The current situation – Essentially where we are right now in 2009.  The current initiatives in progress and the responses from the EU Members; (iii) An assessment of the issues and problems to be resolved. How both parties plan to address these and the considerable obstacles that will need to be overcome; (iv)  The considered way forward if the membership application is to succeed.  An examination of possible timescales resulting from existing EU summit talks.  Consideration of the impact to EU partners like USA, Canada and Australia

Historic Background

The origins of the European Union  really go back to the ends of the First World War when Europe was essentially in ruins.  Some termed it the beginning of the End of European Civilisation.  It was in 1923 when an Austrian Count  Coundenhove Kalergi  brought together key political figures and held the first pan European Congress in Vienna.  The Count was quoted as saying “Europe as a political concept does not exist. This part of the world includes nations and states installed in the chaos, in a barrel of gunpowder of international conflicts, in a field of future conflicts. This is the European Question: the mutual hate of the Europeans that poisons the atmosphere. (….) The European Question will only be solved by means of the union of  Europe’s nations. (…) The biggest obstacle to the accomplishment of the United States of Europe is the one thousand years old rivalry between the two most populated nations of Pan-Europe: Germany and France…”  (Ocaña, 2003).

It was in 1957 and the signing of the Treaty of Rome that bought 6 member states into a European Union. The initial signatories to the Treaty were France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Italy, and  Germany.  The signatories came into force 1st January 1958. The initial framework agreement provided a political alignment between these nations with the express purpose of integrating the peoples of Europe.  The European Economic Community (EEC) subsequently became termed “the common market”.  In the early years it was the absence of the United Kingdom in the EEC that created the major political obstacles for moving forward with further European integration.  The main problem or issue with Britain being the loss of sovereignty and the emergence of a Federal Europe thereby diminishing the role of the UK parliamentary system in favour of the European Parliament.  Even today there remains issues, particularly in defence where both France and Britain both refuse to surrender the nuclear deterrent to Europe.  Nevertheless Britain joined the EEC in 1973.  The Treaty of Maastricht in 1992 witnessed further expansion of the Union and the concept of European Citizenship along with the European Monetary Union (EMU), a European Central Bank and progress towards a common Security policy.On 20th February 2001 the EEC dealt with the concept of the Eastern European Countries and their desire to be formally within European Integration.  These were mainly countries that were isolated within the soviet bloc of the former USSR and as such had lost European identity.  The Treaty in Nice discussed the following countries applications: ” (Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, Eslovenia, in the first wave, and Bulgaria, Letonia, Latvia, Malta, Rumania and Slovakia, in the second phase) that had already started negotiations, Turkey should be added ”  (Ocana, 2003) Fig 1 above illustrates the enlarged position of the EU in 2001.

The Current Situation

The latest situation really rests with three nations, that of Cyprus, Malta and Turkey.  All countries in the EEC have a right of veto that may block the admission of any new members.  Cyprus having entered the process earliest had issues with its country being divided with Turkish occupation of the North of the Island.  Hence it would become difficult for Turkey to process its application until this issue has been resolved.  Equally Greece and Turkey have had a troublesome past with Greece being in Greek orthodox religion and Turkey being an Islamic state.  The position of the EEC being that Turkey did not currently satisfy admission requirements to the EEC ” The Luxembourg European Council affirmed that this country did not satisfy the political and economic conditions to start accession negotiations and, thus, the EU strategy to prepare Turkey for joining the Union should be continued” (Ocaña, 2003).  Turkey claimed that this was prejudice because of its’ Islamic religion, this combined with the West’s anti Islamic position and obsession with terrorism.

The Cultural Values and Implications for the EU

One of the major cultural issues and barrier for the EU is Turkey’s status as an Islamic Country. In historical terms membership of the EU has been comprised of Christian democratic countries.  From a religious perspective enshrined in this is the Vatican and heart of the Christian faith of Catholicism.  Both place the Holy Lands of Israel and particularly Jerusalem at the heart of their respective beliefs.  This disputed territory has seen countless skirmishes and wars over the Centuries between Europe and the Islamic States.  There is also the future position of Israel who may equally be desirous of joining the EU at some future point.  Although there are minority Islamic peoples residing in member countries, nevertheless tensions still remain. One of the main barriers is the lack of integration and conformity that Islamic people hold when moving to new countries.  Although democratic rights express the freedoms to practice whatever religion you believe in, this does create tensions when you do not acknowledge the customs, beliefs and traits of the country you call home.  A recent example being the decline of a permit to build a minarets in Switzerland. A poll of the majority of the Swiss residents rejected this as an infringement of Swiss culture.

Similar extremist groups in the UK have pointed out that in 2040 there will be sufficient Muslims living in the UK eligible to elect their own parliament and possibly reintroduce Shania Law.  Thus fundamentally changing the cultural values and way of life in the UK forever.  Whatever way you wish to examine this, the extreme elements will be a powerful anti-lobby particularly in times of unemployment, recession and unease with terrorism events that predominately emanate from the Islamic world.  Lack of conformity and integration with Christian based societies will prove a major barrier for Turkeys entry into the European Union.

The EU also stands for freedom of movement between respective nations.  Turkey has a huge population and could create a huge influx of people into member states.  Germany and Austria have expressed specific concerns about this at a time when they are already dealing with the effect of rising unemployment and a world recession.  Recent examples of migrant populations of Gypsies moving from Rumania into the more affluent regions of Italy have caused tremendous social upheaval in Italy.  Most of these moved in bands or clans and created a sub culture of crime, thereby severely disrupting an established way of life in Italian villages.  To criticise this leads to one being branded a fascist or extremist, nevertheless it represents a serious social problem that has the potential to destroy the social fabric of Europe. (Susuzlu, 2009)

Others have criticised Islamic Societies as being a medieval society embracing Shania Law and outmoded concepts of justice.  Such behaviour would not be tolerated in modern European Christian based states.  Equally the subjection of woman and the poor state of human rights in Turkey are additional factors.  Current events demonstrate poor relationships with Cyprus and human rights problems in the treatment of the Kurds.  The EU along with the UN and NATO are concerned about rogue Islamic states like Iran who defy international conventions.  The link between Turkey and Iran is of cause for concern and some feel might be the means of further transporting terrorist activities into the very heart of the European Union.   This refers to the concept of “cultural overstretch” going beyond the accepted norms of possibility into a brave new world with ill defined borders and unknown significant threats.  (Gurhards, 2007)

Assessment of the Problems

The European Union has a number of important key issues to resolve in allowing Turkey into the European Union :

1. Europe is predominately made up of Christian Nations, whereas Turkey is an Islamic State;
2. Turkey has a history of poor human rights that contravenes Western Democratic principles;
3. The invasion of Cyprus and the issue with another prospective member state;
4. The size, population and disposition makes it larger than any member state;
5. Purchasing power in Turkey estimated at 1/3rd of European average, hence doubts over benefits as a trading partner;
6. High inflation and high unemployment with in excess of 50% in agriculture.  Opening the doors to other European countries might create social unrest in other countries.  Italy was already suffering from a large migrant force of predominately gypsies from Rumania, many of which had resorted to criminal activities in Italy.
7. Germany expressed concern over a flood of migrant Turkish workers to other prosperous areas of the EU might create further unemployment and civil disturbance; this at a time when most of Europe was getting to grips with unemployment and recession.
8. Turkey cautioned Europe that its rejection would push Turkey away from Europe and move them more into Islamic fundamentalism.  This creating a breeding ground for religious fanaticism and terrorists.

The Way Forward

The European Union, despite the many issues involved, would like to see a modernised Turkey as a partner in the European Union.  This is seen to have a number of political advantages.  Turkey is already a member of NATO and as such provides a valuable Military base in order to deal with many of the strategic problems in the Middle East.  Turkey is also seen as a bridge between East and West.  This has been a gateway between two cultures from the time of Constantinople ( now Istanbul).  A modern Islamic culture would help to build bridges with the other more extreme elements, particularly in the Arabic world.  Whilst the USA has nurtured relationships with Saudi Arabia; Europe has been less fortunate in having a strategic ally in the Islamic World.  There remains a lot of problems with Drug trafficking primarily from Afghanistan and Pakistan but moving through Russia and Turkey.  As a member country with the EEC it would be possible to impose more stringent controls over the less desirable elements.

Unfortunately Turkey has to satisfy many of the criteria,  as previously identified above. Not least the aspect of Human Rights issues involving both Cyprus and the treatment of the Kurds in Northern Iraq.  This becomes a major barrier to the democracy of the EU.  Not all of the EU members will be united on the position of the Turkish membership proposal. Some of the views may be very intransigent and difficult to convince.  Of the 35 policy areas under review in 2005 8 of these were blocked and remain under review.  At this time it was considered that it will be at least 15 years before the Turkish position can move forward.  Both France and Austria have decided that a referendum of the people will be held before they are prepared to put forward a firm position.  Britain was already luke warm on the idea and recent acts of Terrorism from Islamic fundamentalists have not helped Turkeys cause.  The UK in addition will be extremely concerned about how this membership will impact its relations. ”  The former president of the European Commission, Jacques Delors, once said that the EU was a “Christian club”. That view continues to be held in some European Christian Democrat parties with the USA.  ”  (News, 2006)  Fig 2 demonstrates the support for Turkey over some of the key member states – Hungary, UK, Portugal and Spain where there are already significant islamic communities.

Conclusions

This will be one of the most difficult political decisions facing the European since its formation in 1957.  It is considered that this will not occur until many of the other Eastern European nations have consolidated their positions within the EU.  This is particularly true of the Balkan countries which are rebuilding after the Balkan wars.  The concept of no real decision for 15-20 years is not unrealistic in terms of the complexity of the decision making process. France, Cyprus, Austria and Denmark are relatively adverse to Turkey membership. The biggest threat will come from the right of Veto and possibly the biggest threat here will be from Cyprus.  Equally if referendums take place in Austria and France, as indicated by their administration, and they obtain “NO” votes then a veto might be likely from either of these two countries.  The British Foreign Secretary David Miliband has the last word ” In an article in The Times on Monday, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband wrote that the European Union should welcome Turkey as an EU member. Miliband’s article comes ahead of the two-day Brussels summit of EU leaders starting Thursday.”  (Miliband, 2009)

Works Cited

Gurhards, J. (2007). Differences Between Old and New Member States of the EU and Turkey. Berlin: Routledge.

Miliband, D. (2009, 10 26). Daily News and Economic Review. Retrieved 11 17, 2009, from British FM writes EU must welcome Turkey’s EU membership: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=british-fm-writes-eu-must-welcome-turkey8217s-eu-membership-2009-10-26

News, B. (2006, 12 11). Q&A: Turkey’s EU entry talks . Retrieved 11 17, 2009, from BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4107919.stm

Ocaña, J. C. (2003). Historiasiglo20.org. Retrieved 11 14, 2009, from The History of the European Union: http://www.historiasiglo20.org/europe/anteceden.htm

Ocana, J. C. (2003). The History of the European Union. Retrieved 11 17, 2009, from Historiasiglo: http://www.historiasiglo20.org/europe/niza.htm

Susuzlu, S. (2009). The Identity Clash of the European Union and Turkey: A Cultural Approach (Paperback). London: VDM Verlag.