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Times of Malta, Malta
Oct 9 2005
Turkey's historic path towards EU membership
by Anthony Manduca
The European Union has finally opened membership talks with Turkey,
paving the way for this huge Muslim country to eventually join the
bloc. Last-minute objections by Austria, which wanted Ankara to be
offered a "privileged partnership" as an alternative to membership,
should negotiations fail, were overcome. The opening of accession
talks is a truly historic event and presents the EU with its biggest
ever challenge - how to integrate such a huge, poor, Muslim country
with a mixed human rights record into the club.
Should Turkey successfully conclude its accession negotiations -
perhaps in about 15 years' time - it will be the Union's most
populous member with the biggest number of votes in the Council of
Ministers, so one can understand the preoccupation in certain
European quarters. However, Turkey has been waiting 42 years to join
the EU, it has been a faithful friend and ally of the West, as well
as a loyal NATO partner, it played a major role in the Cold War
containing Communism, and at the December 1999 Helsinki summit it was
finally accepted as an EU candidate country.
The last-minute wrangling, therefore, just a few days before Turkey's
accession negotiations were scheduled to open last Monday, was
unfortunate and sent the wrong signals to the Turks, namely that
Europe would always find an excuse to keep them out. This can only
fuel anti-EU sentiment in Turkey, which is exactly what we do not
want to happen. Opinion polls in Turkey already show a shift against
membership, and that is not good news.
Austria's initial objections were partly tactical - they wanted to
ensure parallel accession negotiations with Croatia - and this was
accepted by the Union. However, it is also true that suspicions of
Turkey run deep in Austria - and the Austrians seem to have long
memories - they saved Europe from the Turks who were assembled at the
gates of Vienna in 1683.
Nevertheless, the world has changed since then and that episode is
very much part of history. After all, as Prime Minister Lawrence
Gonzi very correctly pointed out during his meeting with the members
of the Maltese community in Michigan: "In 1565 Malta and the Knights
saved Europe from the Ottoman invasion. Yet today we support Turkey's
bid to join the EU - provided they improve their track record and
fulfil all entry requirements."
There are certainly valid arguments on both sides of the debate about
whether the EU should accept Turkey as a member, but I have always
maintained, and continue to maintain, that the advantages - both for
the EU and for Turkey - certainly outweigh the disadvantages. Yes,
there is concern that the economic cost of Turkish membership will be
very high, that the overwhelmingly Muslim population could change the
character of the EU, that Turkey still has a lot to do to improve its
human rights record and treatment of minorities and that the Cyprus
problem has remained unresolved.
However, just think of the many advantages. EU membership for Turkey
would mean a consolidation of a secular, Muslim democracy, it would
be a catalyst for economic and political reform in the country,
Turkey would become a natural bridge between Europe and Muslim
countries and it would act as a model for the Muslim world.
Furthermore, Turkey has a very fast growing economy, a young
workforce, a huge army and more than half of its trade is already
with the EU. The strategic role played by Turkey in both Central Asia
and the Middle East would be a huge benefit in the EU.
So I have no doubt at all that in the long run Turkish EU membership
will be very beneficial to both sides - there are clearly both
political and economic advantages.
Of course, the accession talks will not be easy for Turkey, which has
to give solid proof of its commitment to European values, both
political and economic. One must acknowledge that Turkey has already
made tremendous progress in political and economic reform but this
trend must continue, as the EU will definitely be standing firm
during the negotiations. Human rights and equal rights for minorities
still need to be improved as does full freedom for other religions.
The scenes of police beating women demonstrators a few months ago,
for example, certainly did Turkey's image no good. In addition, it is
important that certain social and economic reforms, which are on the
statute books, are properly enforced.
A solution will also have to be found over Cyprus - it is
inconceivable for Turkey to join the bloc without recognising one of
its members. It is true that a UN-sponsored plan for Cyprus was
approved in a referendum by the Turkish Cypriots but rejected by the
Greek Cypriots, but eventually a way out will have to be negotiated.
It is also essential that Turkey comes to terms with its past - it
must do some serious soul-searching about the Armenian question and
acknowledge its past role in this terrible episode in history. There
is nothing wrong in admitting such a role - it is in fact a sign of
democratic maturity and of being at ease with one's self. And the
Kurdish question must continue to be tackled - a Turkey in the EU has
to give full rights to and respect for this minority, there can be
absolutely no argument about this.
European governments now have a very important role to play in
convincing their electorates that Turkey's membership of the bloc is
in the EU's interest. They must convince voters - especially those in
countries such as Austria, Germany France and The Netherlands, that
this will bring increased security and prosperity for everyone.
Unfortunately, the 'EU15' failed to adequately convince many of their
voters that the previous enlargement was a success - although it
clearly has been - and this was partly responsible for the French and
Dutch rejection of the EU Constitution. A huge public relations
campaign is needed to win the hearts and minds of Europeans over
Turkey's EU bid.
Turkey's membership will be positive for Europe as a whole - and it
is important that both sides enter the accession negotiations with an
open positive mind and with a view that if handled correctly this is
a win-win situation.
Oct 9 2005
Turkey's historic path towards EU membership
by Anthony Manduca
The European Union has finally opened membership talks with Turkey,
paving the way for this huge Muslim country to eventually join the
bloc. Last-minute objections by Austria, which wanted Ankara to be
offered a "privileged partnership" as an alternative to membership,
should negotiations fail, were overcome. The opening of accession
talks is a truly historic event and presents the EU with its biggest
ever challenge - how to integrate such a huge, poor, Muslim country
with a mixed human rights record into the club.
Should Turkey successfully conclude its accession negotiations -
perhaps in about 15 years' time - it will be the Union's most
populous member with the biggest number of votes in the Council of
Ministers, so one can understand the preoccupation in certain
European quarters. However, Turkey has been waiting 42 years to join
the EU, it has been a faithful friend and ally of the West, as well
as a loyal NATO partner, it played a major role in the Cold War
containing Communism, and at the December 1999 Helsinki summit it was
finally accepted as an EU candidate country.
The last-minute wrangling, therefore, just a few days before Turkey's
accession negotiations were scheduled to open last Monday, was
unfortunate and sent the wrong signals to the Turks, namely that
Europe would always find an excuse to keep them out. This can only
fuel anti-EU sentiment in Turkey, which is exactly what we do not
want to happen. Opinion polls in Turkey already show a shift against
membership, and that is not good news.
Austria's initial objections were partly tactical - they wanted to
ensure parallel accession negotiations with Croatia - and this was
accepted by the Union. However, it is also true that suspicions of
Turkey run deep in Austria - and the Austrians seem to have long
memories - they saved Europe from the Turks who were assembled at the
gates of Vienna in 1683.
Nevertheless, the world has changed since then and that episode is
very much part of history. After all, as Prime Minister Lawrence
Gonzi very correctly pointed out during his meeting with the members
of the Maltese community in Michigan: "In 1565 Malta and the Knights
saved Europe from the Ottoman invasion. Yet today we support Turkey's
bid to join the EU - provided they improve their track record and
fulfil all entry requirements."
There are certainly valid arguments on both sides of the debate about
whether the EU should accept Turkey as a member, but I have always
maintained, and continue to maintain, that the advantages - both for
the EU and for Turkey - certainly outweigh the disadvantages. Yes,
there is concern that the economic cost of Turkish membership will be
very high, that the overwhelmingly Muslim population could change the
character of the EU, that Turkey still has a lot to do to improve its
human rights record and treatment of minorities and that the Cyprus
problem has remained unresolved.
However, just think of the many advantages. EU membership for Turkey
would mean a consolidation of a secular, Muslim democracy, it would
be a catalyst for economic and political reform in the country,
Turkey would become a natural bridge between Europe and Muslim
countries and it would act as a model for the Muslim world.
Furthermore, Turkey has a very fast growing economy, a young
workforce, a huge army and more than half of its trade is already
with the EU. The strategic role played by Turkey in both Central Asia
and the Middle East would be a huge benefit in the EU.
So I have no doubt at all that in the long run Turkish EU membership
will be very beneficial to both sides - there are clearly both
political and economic advantages.
Of course, the accession talks will not be easy for Turkey, which has
to give solid proof of its commitment to European values, both
political and economic. One must acknowledge that Turkey has already
made tremendous progress in political and economic reform but this
trend must continue, as the EU will definitely be standing firm
during the negotiations. Human rights and equal rights for minorities
still need to be improved as does full freedom for other religions.
The scenes of police beating women demonstrators a few months ago,
for example, certainly did Turkey's image no good. In addition, it is
important that certain social and economic reforms, which are on the
statute books, are properly enforced.
A solution will also have to be found over Cyprus - it is
inconceivable for Turkey to join the bloc without recognising one of
its members. It is true that a UN-sponsored plan for Cyprus was
approved in a referendum by the Turkish Cypriots but rejected by the
Greek Cypriots, but eventually a way out will have to be negotiated.
It is also essential that Turkey comes to terms with its past - it
must do some serious soul-searching about the Armenian question and
acknowledge its past role in this terrible episode in history. There
is nothing wrong in admitting such a role - it is in fact a sign of
democratic maturity and of being at ease with one's self. And the
Kurdish question must continue to be tackled - a Turkey in the EU has
to give full rights to and respect for this minority, there can be
absolutely no argument about this.
European governments now have a very important role to play in
convincing their electorates that Turkey's membership of the bloc is
in the EU's interest. They must convince voters - especially those in
countries such as Austria, Germany France and The Netherlands, that
this will bring increased security and prosperity for everyone.
Unfortunately, the 'EU15' failed to adequately convince many of their
voters that the previous enlargement was a success - although it
clearly has been - and this was partly responsible for the French and
Dutch rejection of the EU Constitution. A huge public relations
campaign is needed to win the hearts and minds of Europeans over
Turkey's EU bid.
Turkey's membership will be positive for Europe as a whole - and it
is important that both sides enter the accession negotiations with an
open positive mind and with a view that if handled correctly this is
a win-win situation.