It's here - Turkey is allowed to join EU

[Toasty]

In my opinion, this is great, great news. Whatever the West can do to build peaceful brideges across cultures is beneficial to the world at large.

 

[Sword_Of_Geddon]

Is it official then? Is that actually happening?

 

[Steph]

What has actually happen is the settings of a date (5th of October 2005) to start the negociation between Turkey and EU, with a goal to accept Turkey in EU. Negociation could take 15 years.

I think it's a good think. Negociation should be hard, and we need to be sure Turkey respect all EU criteria and will keep doing so in the future (ie the changes are stable), but if these conditions are met, it will strenghten EU and Turkey on the long term.

 

[Goober]

I am not European (well, all my ancestors were!), so i haven't been following the issue a whole bunch, but Europeans must know that there are consequences to this. This is a Muslim nation, and some nations, like the Netherlands, are having troubles with muslim Extremists. Europeans must ask themselves what are the benefits to Turkey being part of the EU.

But, like i said, I am not European. IMO, Turkey should be let in, provided that they improve their Human Rights record, especially about the Kurds. I voted hard to Say.

 

[BassDude726]

Hallelujah globalization. Welcome everyone you can into the EU. All the better to counteract the US foreign policies. I hope the EU becomes the next global rival for the US. We need a rival, and it's sure better than China.

 

[Stapel]

The Turkish government is currently run by a Muslim party, so I don't know where you're getting this idea of secularity. In the past, when Muslim parties have been elected, they always made sure to remain secular, because if they didn't, the military would remove them from power. In this way, Turkey stayed secular and democratic while surrounding countries descended into theocracy and despotism. Now, EU demands have taken that ability from the military, and if an extremist party gets elected, nothing is stopping them.

Ironically, the EU, secularism incarnate, may have contributed to the creation of yet another fundamentalist state in the future.

The Dutch government is currently run by a Christian party (CDA). Yet, that doesn't harm our secularity.

My opinion is that Turkey should have chance to stay secular and democratic, even with a religious party in the government. That's why it going to take 10-15 years.
I don't believe in a common Christian European culture, and I also dislike the idea of futile debates on geographical position.
So, Turkey should have a chance! And the EU should make clear terms of condition, containing a garantue for democracy&secularity, a garantue for gettign rid of military influence in politics, a solution for Cyprus, a solution for Kurds (btw, only a small minority of Turkish Kurds want to secede), and several economical stability rules (we already have those).

If Turkey is not able to stay secular without military influence, it is simply NOT ready for EU!

A small threadjack:
Getting rid of CAP is a 100 times more important than a possible Turkish joint to the EU .

 

[Stapel]

I am not European (well, all my ancestors were!), so i haven't been following the issue a whole bunch, but Europeans must know that there are consequences to this. This is a Muslim nation, and some nations, like the Netherlands, are having troubles with muslim Extremists. Europeans must ask themselves what are the benefits to Turkey being part of the EU.

But, like i said, I am not European. IMO, Turkey should be let in, provided that they improve their Human Rights record, especially about the Kurds. I voted hard to Say.

Half of the Muslim immigrants here in NL (originally) come from Turkey, the other half comes from Morocco. 99% of the extremists cas be find in the Moroccon (Arab) part.
Apart from that, Turkey is not a Muslim nation, it's a nation with many Muslims. I've been there twice and I know quite some Turkish immigrants here. The whole idea of Turkey as a Muslim nation seems a bit far-fetched to me.

 

[Goober]

Half of the Muslim immigrants here in NL (originally) come from Turkey, the other half comes from Morocco. 99% of the extremists cas be find in the Moroccon (Arab) part.
Apart from that, Turkey is not a Muslim nation, it's a nation with many Muslims. I've been there twice and I know quite some Turkish immigrants here. The whole idea of Turkey as a Muslim nation seems a bit far-fetched to me.

Interesting. I was under the impression that Turkey was quite a strongly muslim state, that everybody but a few minorities were Muslim, and it was quite non-secular.

I must be mistaken. Apparently I know little about Turkey. So, if the extremists come from Morocco mainly, then why the clause about limiting the number of Turkish Muslims allowed to go into the rest of the EU, if Turkey is let in? or is that to limit the number of people flooding the other countries, looking for work?

 

[Steph]

First, it's anti constitutional (regarding the future constitution of Europe).
Second, it's more a move to reassure public opinions in some countries, where people are not to happy with the possibility of Turkey joining (for work, and fear of muslims).
For my part, I'm confident in the future, and I don't think we'll be in danger because of either, if we go slow enough to prepare everything.

I'm for integration of Turkey, but at the correct pace : let's not rush it, so it's a success for every one

 

[Iggy]

It will take a very long time for the Turks to be happy to join the EU. Amongst all the things they have to do to get thier house in order is they have to recognise the Greek Cypriot government (a current EU member). That will not be popular with Turkish voters.

 

[jonatas]

It will take a very long time for the Turks to be happy to join the EU. Amongst all the things they have to do to get thier house in order is they have to recognise the Greek Cypriot government (a current EU member). That will not be popular with Turkish voters.

that's true.. and they have human rights issues to address... but alot can be done in a short time.... i don't know what the projections are, but if it takes them 10 or 15 years to sort it out then all the power to them... i'm confident they will resolve their issues

 

[Scuffer]

I am entirely indifferent to the prospect. It's too far off for any predictions about the disasters/greatness to be valid.

 

[Mapache]

Tunisia, Marocco and Algeria aren't democratic by any means which means that they aren't E.U. membership candidates.

 

[Reno]

In 20 years Turkey has enough time to work out it's problems, and once it does join later they can benefit Europe greatly. Though if they can't resolve their internal problems then it'll be as the article said a "Trojan Horse".

 

[Stapel]

I would have liked better to see Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia joining the EU instead of Turkey. Culturally speaking, Maghreeb countries are a lot more closer to France than is Turkey. Moreover, they are Arab, which is even better as I've understood that putting Turkey in was simply a marketing advertisement to prove Europe was not racist. There's no border issues in Maghreeb as there are in Turkey. And finally, there are less people in those 3 countries together than in Turkey only. In 2050, there will be 110 million Turks and 70 million Germans.

However, the EU Parliament has decided. And obviously the supporters of Turkey in the EU were very proud and happy of their vote. So I guess they know what they are doing.

Marla,

Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia are totally backward! Neither of them have Free Press, nor a mature democracy! Turkey has both!
They're only closer to France, due to history and language.
As we can see quite clearly here in NL, there is quite a difference between Turkish and Moroccon immigrants.

 

[Steph]

Marla,

Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia are totally backward! Neither of them have Free Press, nor a mature democracy! Turkey has both!
They're only closer to France, due to history and language.
As we can see quite clearly here in NL, there is quite a difference between Turkish and Moroccon immigrants.

Tunisia isn't that backward! The press isn't really free, and the democracy is dubious, in the sense of the Presidential "election", but beside that they are relatively close to use.

 

[Stapel]

Interesting. I was under the impression that Turkey was quite a strongly muslim state, that everybody but a few minorities were Muslim, and it was quite non-secular.

Oh, most are Muslim. Yet, The average American is more Christian than the average Turk is muslim.

I must be mistaken. Apparently I know little about Turkey. So, if the extremists come from Morocco mainly, then why the clause about limiting the number of Turkish Muslims allowed to go into the rest of the EU, if Turkey is let in? or is that to limit the number of people flooding the other countries, looking for work?

It has to do with labour and with fear I guess.

 

[Stapel]

Tunisia isn't that backward! The press isn't really free, and the democracy is dubious, in the sense of the Presidential "election", but beside that they are relatively close to use.

Steph,
If you lack really free press and your democracy is dubious, you ARE backward.
Free Press and Democracy are, IMHO, the only pillars of civilisation!

 

[WickedSmurf]

Voted Hard to say because it is.

This might have me emigrate to the United States. If they join, then we better make sure they stop their persecution of the Kurds, which hopefully means all the Kurds in Sweden can return home and no more of them come here. Then again, it could also mean that due to open borders, we'll get flooded with both Turks and Kurds.

Also, people from the countries east of Turkey can get an easier time getting to Europe through Turkey. Oh horror. I would prefer to keep Turkey out of the EU really, but this might be a good thing. Time will tell, as always.

 

[Hakim]

It's a good decision to start the negotiations, they can take the easy parts first. Negotiations themselves are not a promise of membership.

I support Turkish membership, once they have fulfilled the most important requirements from EU.