about Turkey's EU candidacy (Fall 2004)

Turkey’s EU Candidacy

There have been many discussions going on about Turkey’s accession to Europe in the last few months. As a Turkish student living in France for the last 2 months, I had a chance to analyze the European point of view and its hesitation towards accepting Turkey as a full member state. In this paper, I would like to answer the mainstream concerns about Turkey which are considered as an obstacle for its candidacy.
Economically: Turkey is world’s 17th and Europe’s 6th largest economy making it an economy bigger than Denmark, Finland and Ireland combined. It has a yearly growth rate of 8%, highest in Europe. (For example France’s yearly growth rate is only 1%) This growth might bring a big competitiveness in a saturated market such as Europe.
The current problem with Turkish economy is its stability. But Turkey’s economical growth can develop into a sustainable level with an optimistic and a clear agenda of its integration to Europe. In addition, a common mistake is also made considering Turkey as an agricultural country, but only 11 % percent of its gdp is provided by agriculture, where in Greece, a member of EU since 1985, this share is 8%.
Politically: Besides being a secular republic, majority of Turkey’s citizens are Muslims. However, Radical Islam has never played a role in Turkish politics since the foundation of the modern republic. The structure of the state strictly prevents an infiltration of any religious movement to the regime. As an example women suffrage was granted in Turkey in 1934, ten years earlier than France. Another example abortion, contraception and divorce is legal in Turkey since 1930s where it wasn’t in Ireland few years ago.
Although there has been a strong military significance in Turkish politics, this role was reduced after a new set of laws which have passed in the last few years. Also the abuse of human rights was diminished after the new legislation took place. And Turkey’s abuse of human rights was no worse than what happened under the regime of Franco in Spain. These set of reforms made by Turkey were also mentioned positively in last report for the EU council.
As regards geography, a significant part of Turkey is in Europe, this part is larger than may European states and Istanbul alone with a population of some 12 million is one of Europe's largest cities. The fact that Cyprus, which is a geographical extension of the Anatolian mainland and situated at the most easterly part of Turkey, is considered as part of Europe makes the geographical arguments untenable.
Culturally and historically: Turkey’s precedent Ottoman Empire had dominated a significant area in Europe for four centuries. During this period cultural exchange and integration took place and Turkish art and customs were introduced into Europe and vice versa. Also During the 20th century Turkey’s political and social relations with other European countries never ceased as it did for 50 years in former Iron Curtain countries such as Poland, Slovakia and Hungary, all members of EU.
It should always be kept in mind that Turkey’s accession to Europe is a long march which has not ended yet. By starting the negotiations in 2005, Europe will have a better chance to understand and observe Turkey as a candidate. And it should always be known that after the negotiations are completed EU will always have an option to say no to Turkey.