Relations between Turkey and the European Union

As of 1959, the Turkey wished to adhere to the European Community, now European Union. Turkey was officially recognized candidate for adhesion the December 10th 1999 with the European top of Helsinki, being an associated country since 1963.

Economic relations

The collapse of the Soviet Union returned to this country its central place in this area of the world: with the limits of the Near and the Middle East, Central Asia, the Caucasus and Balkan Europe.

Commercial relations

Since 1980, Turkey strongly increased its exports and its imports. Thus, the share of exports in the Turkish GDP passed from 7% in 1980 to 21% in 1987. The amount of these exports increased by 12,9 billion $ in 1990 to 46,8 billion in 2003, however that the imports passed from 22,3 to 68,7 billion.

In 2002, seven of the ten main customers and suppliers of Turkey belong to the European Union (the Germany, the Italy, the France, the Great Britain, the Belgo-Luxembourg economic Union, the Netherlands and the Spain). They absorb 45,4% of Turkish exports alone, against 14% for the countries of the Organization of the Islamic conference, 9,2% for the the United States and 1,8% for the republics of Central Asia.

The commercial exchanges with the Greece are in big rise since the end of the year 1990, following the improvement of the political relations and the Russian economic crisis of 1998. From 1999 to 2003, Turkish exports to the Hellenic Republic have almost triplet, and the imports grew of a third. In October 2000, the guild chamber of Thessalonique and the Union of the rooms of craftsmen and tradesmen of Istanbul signed a protocol. In 2001, the Greek government decided to allot export assistances towards Turkey, in order to increase the volume of the exchanges.

The customs duties with the CEE/UE were lowered by the treaty of Ankara (1963), the additional protocol of 1970, the treaty of 1992, then removed by the agreement of customs union, sign in 1995 and effective since January 1st, 1996.

The industrialists Turkish of cotton belong to the Committee of industries of the cotton and related fibers of the European Union (Eurocoton). April 6th, 2004, Eurocoton met in Istanbul.

Energy

Since the discovery of the energy richnesses of the Caspian Sea, the question of their transport towards the ultimate consumers, the Westerners, acquired a geostrategic importance.

Transport could be carried out according to one of these three roads;

is by the ports Iran iens of the Persian Gulf;
is by the Russia;
is by the the Caucasus.

The solution of the Caucasus makes it possible to avoid the use of infrastructures of the zones already strongly producing. Oil companies of the occident and the United States already indicated their preference for the construction of a Pipeline Bakou - Tbilissi - Ceyhan. Ceyhan is right now the arrival of a pipeline coming from Kirkuk, in the north of Iraq.

The new pipeline entered in service in 2005. It passes only by the Azerbaïdjan, the Georgia and the Turkey. It thus avoids the ports of the Black Sea and the passage of the tankers by Istanbul and the straits. It is about an essential strategic pole.

Water

The hydrological potential of Turkey is important, compared to country of the Middle East. One of the rare means of Israel to face its water shortage is the importation by Tanker S. In August 2002, Israel and Turkey signed a bearing agreement on 50 million cubic meters of fresh water per annum during twenty years, for a value of approximately a billion euros.

See the article Relations between Turkey and Israel .

History of the candidature

In 2004, Turkey was not ready for adhesion and the European public opinions seemed reticent. For these reasons, it was invited to start the negotiations the October 3rd 2005, a process which should take at least a decade to be achieved. This ten years incompressible period was described as “pawl” in the newspaper Le Monde .

In the European public opinion, the possibility of its adhesion, theoretically possible as of 2014, crystallizes the interrogations on the future of the widening of the European Union.

The possibility for Turkey of adhering to the Union is signed in 1963, but was made solemn by the European Council of Helsinki in December 1999, which recognizes an applicant country having vocation to join the Union. This candidature was since then confirmed by the heads of state and government during the majority of their meetings.

An old objective of adhesion

Turkey takes part very early in European construction. It is member founder of the European Organization of economic cooperation (1948) and adheres since 1949 to the the Council of Europe. Already, in 1930, the memorandum presented by Alexis Leger on the European unification was criticized by certain Europeans because it did not mention Turkey.

November 11th, 1957, Turkish the Prime Minister presents his program. He at that time announces that Turkey intends to take part in the initiatives such as the European Economic community, called Common Market, and that she wishes that these initiatives lead to a political Union European.

The July 31st 1959, eighteen months only after the coming into effect of the treated of Rome, Turkey presented its request for association to the EEC. In 1961, when a new Turkish Constitution is adopted, a subparagraph is added in article 65, concerning the ratification of the international treaties, in order to facilitate Turkish adhesion with the EEC.

The Greece had presented its request the June 8th 1959 for a coming agreement of association with the European Economic community into effect on November 1st, 1962. That with Turkey came into effect on December 1st, 1964.

At the beginning, the France was really hostile with the association of Turkey. This one felt the refusal of negotiation hard, opposed by France, at the Council of Ministers Europeans of the September 26th and 27th 1961. Then, the position of France evolved/moved. According to Georges-Henri Soutou, three reasons explain this evolution:

On the one hand, the French leaders understood that it acted for Turkey of an existential question.

In addition, the agreement of France belonged to an global agreement with the German , so that those accept the convention of association with the African States and Malagasy, signed with Yaounde on July 20th 1963.

Lastly, the foreign policy of France had evolved/moved during this period and Turkey could constitute an important component of this new policy.

June 27th 1967 the president of the Republic of Turkey east received with the Elysium by Charles de Gaulle. This last declared: “In Europe, the interest of our two Republics is not it to combine their efforts so that instead of the sterile opposition of two camps are established the relaxation, the agreement and the co-operation between all the people of our continent”. The efforts of Atatürk did not remain without results.

Parallel to its candidature, Turkey continues to take part in European construction. In particular, it is member founder of the Conférence on safety and the co-operation in Europe (CSCE), then of the Organization for safety and the co-operation in Europe.

Agreement of association

Agreement of Ankara

In 1963, the September 12th, the agreement of association between Turkey and the European Economic community, called the Ankara Agreement, is signed. As for Greece, and contrary with the Morocco and the Tunisia in 1969, it includes the prospect for an adhesion. The preamble to the agreement of association “recognizes that the support brought by the EEC to the efforts of the Turkish people to improve his standard of living will facilitate later on the accession of Turkey at the Community”. In the text of the agreement, article 28 precise: “When the operation of the agreement makes it possible to consider the integral acceptance on behalf of Turkey of the obligations rising from the treaty establishing the Community, the contracting parties will examine the possibility of an accession of Turkey at the Community. ”

At the time of its short speech pronounced in Ankara, during the signature of the agreement, Walter Hallstein, president of the Commission of the EEC and former German Secretary of State to the Foreign affairs, rents the “comprehension” expressed by “the Turkish delegation with regard to the ideals and of the principles of the Treaty of Rome” and declares that “Turkey belonged to Europe” and that “one day the last step will be crossed: Turkey will be member of full exercise of the Community. ”

November 23rd, 1970, an additional protocol and a financial protocol are signed reinforcing association.

New candidature

In 1987, the April 14th, after the European Economic community extended itself to six novel members, Turkey made a formal deposit of candidature.
Le June 18th of the same year, the the European Parliament publishes the " resolution about a political solution of the Armenian question (June 18th, 1987) " in which it conditions the integration of Turkey to the EEC with the recognition of the Armenian genocide and with the respect of the minorities - in particular Armenian - country. However this resolution is only one formal standpoint, the opinion of the European Parliament is not formally necessary for an adhesion.

The December 18th 1989, the European commission delivers an negative opinion provisional on the opening of the negotiations of adhesion with this country, because “of the economic context and policy of Turkey”. The opinion also notes that “the situation of the human rights and the respect of the identity of the minorities, though having been the subject of an evolution during the last years, did not reach yet the level necessary for a democracy”. However, this opinion is given at the time of the fall of the Iron curtain; the Commission thus specifies in its opinion: “Any position of the Community relative to a new widening will have a range exceeding the positions taken during preceding adhesions, because at the same time of the new ambitions of the European integration which the Single act and of the increase in rights and obligations imposes which stick from now on to the quality of Member State”.

In 1990, the February 5th, the Council of Ministers Europeans adopts the broad outlines of the opinion of the Commission.

In 1992, Turkey becomes, at the sides of the Iceland and the Norway, associated member of the Western European Union, which is gradually integrated into the “second pillar” of the European Union. Always in 1992, a new agreement is signed: it restores the financial aid stopped after the military coup d'etat of 1980, reinforces association with the EU and announces the creation of a customs union.

Customs union

March 6th, 1995, Turkey signs with the EU an agreement of customs union, continuing the process of economic integration envisaged by the Ankara Agreement. The agreement is accommodated very favorably in Turkey, except by the islamist ones (which takes care however not to call into question the agreement during their short passage to the capacity) and certain nationalists. The daily newspaper Hürriyet title: “A dream centenary” and the Prime Minister Tansu Ciller declares: “For Turkey, the true battle for Europe starts”. The agreement takes effect on January 1st, 1996.

In preamble the agreement of customs union indicates that “the objectives laid down by the agreement of association, and in particular by its article 28 of an adhesion, remain of topicality at the time when political changes and economic important occur on the European scene”. Turkey is since then the only country having carried out a customs union with the European Union.

Following the adhesion of ten novel members of the EU, Turkey was invited to sign the actualization of this Customs union. In 2005, Turkey signed this agreement, but the following day, its Foreign Minister published an official statement in which Turkey announced that she refused to apply it to the Republic of Cyprus.

Towards the negotiations

Widening of the EU

In December 1997, the European Council of Luxembourg decides “to launch a process of adhesion including the ten States candidates of Central and Eastern Europe and Cyprus”, Malta having at that time withdrawn its request for candidature. The European Council “decides to convene in spring 1998 bilateral intergovernmental conferences to begin the negotiations with Cyprus, the Hungary, the Poland, the Estonia, the Czech Republic and the Slovenia. In parallel, the preparation of the negotiations with the Romania, the Slovakia, the Latvia, the Lithuania and the Bulgaria will be accelerated”.
“The European Council confirms the eligibility of Turkey to the European Union” but adds that “the political conditions and economic making it possible to consider negotiations of adhesion are not met”.

Following these declarations, Turkey considers that it was the subject of a discriminatory treatment compared to the other applicant countries.

In November 1998, the Commission starts to publish for each country applying for accession, of which Turkey, a “regular report/ratio on good progresses on the way of adhesion”.

Turkey recognized like candidate

In December 1999, the European Council of Helsinki, approaches a recognition of the statute of candidate in Turkey, since “the European Council reaffirms the inclusive character of the process of adhesion, which gathers now thirteen applicant countries within a single framework”. Turkey is thus, as from this moment, integral part of the process. The European Council precise: “The European Council is delighted by the positive elements which recently marked the evolution of the situation in Turkey, and which the Commission in his report/ratio raises besides on the progress made by the applicant countries, as well as intention of Turkey to continue its reforms in order to satisfy the Critères of Copenhagen. Turkey is an applicant country, which has vocation to join the Union on the basis of criterion same as those which apply to the other applicant countries. Within the framework of the current European strategy, Turkey, like the other applicant countries, will profit from a strategy the pre-accession one aiming encouraging and at supporting its reforms”.

In December 2000, under French presidency, a partnership for adhesion was concluded with for objective offering a political program and economic preparation of Turkey to adhesion.

Later European Councils allowed the Heads of state and government to note the “authorized efforts” or “important measurements catches” by Turkey.

In 2001, the capital punishment is removed, except case of “war, threat of imminent war or terrorist acts”. In 2002, it is abolished for all the crimes in times of peace. No execution had taken place since 1984, year when a moratorium had been adopted by the Parliament.

In December 2002, at the time of the European Council of Copenhagen, the Member States take note of the conclusion of the negotiations of adhesion with ten Member States and envisage their effective adhesion at May 1st, 2004. In parallel, “the Union encourages Turkey to continue its reform process vigorously” and gives him “go”: “If, in December 2004, the European Council decides, on the basis of of a report/ratio and a recommendation of the Commission, that Turkey satisfied the political criteria of Copenhagen, the European Union will open without delay of the negotiations of adhesion with this country”.

Recent developments

the November 3rd 2002, the Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi (AKP) arrived at the capacity.
Of 2002 to 2004, Turkey made more progress than it had never made some. While converging towards the Criteria of Copenhagen and by setting up a Rule of law. A new penal code was voted, the state of emergency was abolished in the Kurd regions.
the Courses of state security should disappear.
Turkey ratified the sixth Protocol of the European Convention of the human rights and signed the thirteenth Protocol, which means that it abolished the Capital punishment for all the crimes committed in times of peace (in 2002) and for the crimes in period of war in 2004.
abolished it At the beginning of June 2006, of the English newspapers mention an internal report of the EU according to whom Turkey would not have made any more progress since 2004 and which it would have even regressed on certain fields.

Opening of the negotiations

In answer to these favorable developments, the European commission recommended in October 2004 that the negotiations start in 2005, but also added various measures of precaution. The leaders of the EU fell from agreement the December 16th 2004 to start the negotiations of adhesion with Turkey starting from the October 3rd 2005. In 2004, the possible adhesion of the country was to face the process of democratic approval in Europe and in the Member States according to the national procedures.

One of the recommendations of the report was that the EU defines her financial perspectives for the period of 2014 before the negotiations are not concluded. This does not guarantee that Turkey will join the Union; it is far from probable that integration intervenes before 2015 and certain official of the EU have advanced 2019 like dates potential.

The December 30th, the Safety advice main road (MGK) of Turkey, institution joining together more the civil and military high ranking authorities country, required of the European Union not to impose any condition on Ankara at the time of the opening of the negotiations of adhesion envisaged the next year between the EU and Turkey.

Agreement signed on October 3rd, 2005 allowing the opening of the negotiations

Objective of the negotiations

the common objective of the negotiations is adhesion. These negotiations are an opened process, whose result cannot be guaranteed in advance.
Fascinating of account all criteria of Copenhagen, if Turkey is not able to assume all its obligations to become member (…), one will have to make sure that Turkey will be fully anchored in the European structures through the bond more the extremely possible.
the accession of Turkey being able to have substantial financial consequences, the negotiations could be concluded only after the installation from the financial perspectives (community budget) for the period beginning in 2014.

Case of suspension of the negotiations

In the event of serious and persistent violation by Turkey of the principles of liberty, democracy, respect of the human rights, fundamental freedoms and the Rule of law on which the Union is based, European commission (…) the suspension of the negotiations of adhesion will recommend.
the Council will decide in the majority qualified on such a recommendation.

Application of the Community legislation

adhesion implies acceptance of the rights and the obligations attached to the system of the Union and with its institutional framework, called the asset of the Union.
the asset includes/understands in particular the contents, the principles and the political objectives of the treaties, the adopted legislation and decisions, the decisions of the European Court of justice, the international agreements.
the EU will be able to accept requests of Turkey concerning of the transitional measures provided that they are limited in time and their importance.

Capacity for absorption

the capacity of the Union to absorb Turkey, by maintaining the rate/rhythm of integration, is an important consideration in the general interest of the Union and Turkey.

Cyprus

The EU asks for uninterrupted efforts of Turkey to arrive to an overall solution of the Cypriot question within the framework of UNO , and of progress in the standardization of the bilateral relations between Turkey and all the Member States of the EU, including the Republic of Cyprus .
The EU asks that Turkey fulfill its obligations concerning the agreement of customs union and its extension to the ten new Member States (protocol of Ankara).

Procedure

the negotiations will take place within the framework of an intergovernmental conference.
Before the beginning of these talks, the Commission will undertake a process of examination of the asset, called screening , with an aim of explaining to the Turkish authorities, of evaluating the state of preparation of Turkey to the opening of the negotiations in each specific field, and of obtaining information on the problems which could occur during the negotiations .

Criteria of adhesions

The accession of Turkey to the European Union is subjected to criteria concerning of the values common to the members of the Union, these values were defined by the European Council and one generally refers to it like “Critères of Copenhagen”.

The main brakes relating to the entry of Turkey in the EU officially were the Human rights in Turkey, the refusal of the standardization of the relations with Cyprus and the implication of the army in the Turkish policy. The economic situation of the country is also a subject of concern.

Democracy and human rights

Are followed of very near, as well by the media as by the governments European progress and the intentions of the Turkish State democracy Human rights (cf on these rules, the constitution of the EU and other conventions), its capacity to join the European standards on these subjects (in particular the equality man-woman, rights of the minorities - especially about the Kurdish population - and freedom of expression ¹).
¹ On this subject to see Regular Carryforward one Turkey' S progress towards accession , p. 36 and autres.

In his report/ratio of January 11th, 2007 on the role of the women in Turkey in the social life, economic and political, the the European Parliament diplomatically underlines “the deceleration of the reform process during last year and persistence of the problems in the field of the women's rights” . This report/ratio condemns in particular the violences made towards the women, and in particular the crimes of honor, violences domestic, the forced marriages and polygamy. The Turkish government is invited “to in general make fight against violences and the crimes of honor in particular a priority” and to create strongly protected special refuges.

Kurdish question

The Kurdish language was recently recognized by the Turkish authorities. The government (left AKP) raised a small share of prohibition to large scales of the teaching of the Kurdish - there currently exist two private schools teaching Kurdish - even if it does not accept yet the use of Kurdish in normal education (as required by European conventions for these historical and currently populated zones Kurds).

According to the rules of the EU, Turkey should allow the use of Kurdish in regular teaching, i.e. in any teaching under compulsory education in the Kurd regions. Moreover, the Turkish State should, if he wants to put himself in rule with the legislation of the EU, finance these schools in the same way that the schools teaching in Turkish. Finally Kurdish television exists only a few hours per week and in a limited geographical area.

Religion

The population counts 99,8% of Moslems, mainly sunnites, and 0,2% of Christians and Jews. Although the will of Atatürk was, during the creation of the Republic of Turkey, the creation of a state Laïc, the Islam sunnite profits from privileges in Turkey, of the thousands of Imam S being employed and paid by the State, whereas their counterparts (Turkish) of other religions are not it, and are not to it either the Imams Moslem-alevi. The Greek orthodoxe Église has not been able yet to reopen the orthodoxe Institut of theology of Halki as she wished it. Turkey also continues to send Imams financed by the State in the Member States of the Union.

In theory, the separation of Islam and State are an important point in Turkey, but this principle knows many distorsions in practice. Certain religious traditions are incompatible with the official policy of equality - for example the dedication continues polygamous marriages by the Imams paid by the State in certain moved back areas of Turkey.

Relations with the adjoining countries

Turkey sees itself reproaching a “behavior intimidating” ( bullying behavior ) towards its neighbors.

Closing of the borders with Arménie

Turkey explains its embargo by referring to the conflict between the Arménie and the Azerbaïdjan on the Haut-Karabagh. Azerbaïdjan is culturally, linguistically and religieusement near to Turkey. Reports/ratios of EU 3, p.8 establish that Turkey should take active measures to solve this situation before its possible adhesion.

Territorial claims on Cyprus

The island is always divided since its invasion by Turkey into 1974, Turkey occupying and supporting the Turkish République of Cyprus of North, not recognized internationally, except by Turkey. The international community regards this military occupation as an illegal act. Turkey continues to officially recognize the RTCN but not the République of Cyprus, Member State of the EU, who because of Turkish occupation exerts in practice her sovereignty only in the southern part of the island.

One can notice that if it had come into effect, the project of European Constitution, which envisaged (Article I-41-7°) a mutual support in the event of invasion, would have juridically led the States of the European Union to support Cyprus while entering in conflict with Turkey.

In October 2006, Angela Merkel, chancelière of Germany, at the time of her first official visit in Turkey declared that the recognition of Cyprus was a precondition to the entry of Turkey in the European Union. She asks also the application of the protocol of Ankara of July 2005 allowing the access of the ports and airports Turkish the Cypriot ships and planes.

Aegean Sea

A geostrategic series of problems in the Aegean Sea between the Greece, member of the EU, and the Turkey was the source of military tensions between the two countries, now solved essentially, with the agreement of Madrid (1997), the bringing together gréco-Turkish of 1999-2000 and the meetings of spring 2007 between the principal leaders Turkish and Greeks.

Turkish economy

The three decades of Hyperinflation a long time constituted a major brake with the candidature of Turkey for the EU. Today, on the one hand the Turkish economy knows a strong growth and on the other hand the majority of the problems of inflation are solved. The annual inflation of 75 % in the medium of the Années 1990 was reduced to 6 % these last years.

Outlines

Turkey invested itself on these subjects in the Années 1990 and 2000, with an important reform program under the party Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi (AKP or Party of Justice and the Development), a popular party pro-European having his roots in Islam. Turkey also left the last Plan of UNO of reunification of Cyprus, supported by the EU, in 2004, although its military occupation of the north of continuous Cyprus. Turkey committed itself juridically recognizing the République of Cyprus. It should thus sign the additional protocol with the Ankara Agreement of 1963.

The developments inside Turkey can also freeze the negotiations of adhesion such as the interference of the soldiers skeptics in the civil cases or the rise to power of a line lasts Islamic or of a nationalist government .

Intra-European debate

Beyond the criteria defined officially by the Union for the adhesion of novel members (these criteria not applying only to Turkey), various elements weigh in the opinion of the elected officials and the European citizens as for adhesion or with the rejection of Turkey.

Geographical location and history

According to French political personalities such as Francois Bayrou or Philippe de Villiers, “ Turkey is European, neither by the geography, nor by the history ”.

Geographers (Pascal Clerk, university lecturer with IUFM of Aix-Marseilles; Michel Grésillon, professor at the university of Maine; Eric Glon, professor the university of Lille-I, and Patrick Picouet, university lecturer at the university of Lille) and politists (Jean-François Bayart, research director with CNRS, former director of CERI) pointed out that the scientific relevance of the Straits, like continental border, is null, and that the geography alone, even physical, could not establish immutable borders in Europe. According to the cartographic convention inherited Tatichtchev, the official geographer of the tsar Pierre Large the, 3% only of the Turkish territory is geographically in Europe, but, in this case, the Cypriot territory would be completely out of Europe.

On its side, Turkey has underlined its implication in the Histoire of Europe for 400 years, primarily through the Ottoman Empire.

Turkey also insists on the fact that the majority of its sultans are of European origin and that, until in 1922, the Sultan S were entitled officially emperor of the Romans in reference to their predecessor Basileus. The Roman law that Byzance bequeaths to him inspires as of the 14th century the policy of the State. The Othoman sultans preferred to marry with slaves of European origin, and in particular with the Albanian ones, Italians, the Armenian ones or of the Serb ones. Officers of the Othoman army were sent in formation in France at Louis XVI then in Germany, where they accepted a military and political formation of European type.

January 9th, 1853 (i.e. little before the Crimean War), the Tzar Nicolas I {{er}} declares with the British ambassador, Hamilton Seymour, in connection with the Ottoman Empire: “We should be heard: hold! we have on the arms a sick man, seriously sick; it would be a great misfortune if it were to escape to us before the necessary measures were taken. ”

During nearly four centuries, the Ottoman Empire occupied the Balkan Europe and part of the Central Europe, with the result that today, more 40 % of the Turkish population has European ethnic origins. Turkey also insists on the fact that the majority of its population is of gréco-Anatolian type.

Its current representatives regard Turkey as a European State. Indeed, the culture and the values of the west of the country, which is a European territorial piece conquered after the fall of Constantinople, are close to those of Western Europe. The Turkish State strongly took as a starting point the France and Great Britain, since the 19th century (first reforms of the years 1830, Tanzimat of 1839 and 1856, first Constitution of the Muslim world in 1876) but more particularly in 1908, which saw the revolution Young person-Turks, then with the Réformes kemalists.

The professor with the Collège de France of Turkish and Othoman history Gilles Veinstein criticized in the review the History holding them of a European “one and indivisible” history to which Turkey would be “radically foreign”, being based, in particular, on the political and cultural history of the Ottoman Empire with the S, on the Tanzimat and the reforms kemalists. Semih To winnow, research director at CNRS, and Jean-Daniel Tordjman, president of the Circle of the ambassador, developed similar argumentations.

Compatibility Culture lle

Several conservatives, like the former president of the French Republic, the Belgian Valery Giscard d'Estaing and Socialists Karel Van Miert and Willy Claes estimate that Turkey does not know a secular democracy as it is the standard in European Union. Consequently, they estimate that Turkey is culturally incompatible with the EU.

For those which consider it regrettable that the Catholic religion was not mentioned in the project of Constitutional treaty, the arrival of a historically multicultural country, but now Musulman with 95 % constitutes a threat, or at least an imbalance, in traditionally Christian Europe, though increasingly secularized.

On the other hand, for the partisans of the adhesion of the Turkey, the Intégration of the Moslem Population of Turkey is supposed to improve the European efforts of multiculturalism. That could contribute to avoid a “potential clash of civilizations” between Christian and Moslem Europeans, but also with the other Moslem countries.

The Turks strongly regard their country as a secular State , in the same way that part of the EU is defined itself. Nevertheless, the religious revival, whose the return to the veil and the islamist vote testify, makes doubt part of the observers of the perenniality of the “kemalism” and principles laic in Turkey.

The problem arising from the rights of the religious minorities and cultural, restricted in 1983 by the military regime were also raised, but these rights, already restored partially since 1991, were strongly wide in 2001 and 2004, in order to conform to the criteria of the European Union.

The Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan was made the echo from a point of view prevail in Turkey, according to which the EU would be a “Christian Club”, stripped of legitimate base. He considers with realism that it is the primary reason of the refusal to accept the adhesion of a Moslem State in the Union.

Demographic aspects

Analyzes provide that the population of Turkey could reach 80 million inhabitants from here 2014, without Immigration, and would approach thus that of the Germany. Turkey could thus become one of the first nations of the EU as a population and thus as deputies with the the European Parliament. The capacity Politique of Turkey within the Union could be relatively important.

With a population ranging between 70 and 80 million inhabitants for Turkey, and of 450 + 70 to 80 for the European Union, the weight of Turkey would be of 80/530, that is to say approximately 15 %. In addition, Turkey has a young population (23 % of the population to less than 15 years), relatively well trained and dynamic, which could compensate for the Vieillissement of the population of the EU with 25.

Alignment geostrategic

For the partisans of the accession of Turkey, Turkish military power - the one of the more large armies of the world could increase the diplomatic power of the EU and her capacity to intervene in international operations. In parallel, it should reinforce military alignment on the the United States, Turkey being an ally within the framework of NATO. However, Turkey was opposed twice to the entry of the troops states-uniennes in Iraq, since the Turkish territory, in 2003.

For the partisans of the accession of Turkey, such as Jacques Chirac, the Greens or certain members of the Socialist party, the integration of Turkey appears being in the continuity and the logic of widening, which chaired recently the integration of the country of old the Eastern bloc. This political calculation is related to the will to stabilize the migratory flux, to open new markets, and to maintain Turkey out of islamist mobility.

The same ones estimate that the accession of Turkey would cement its alignment with the Western . Turkey is a strong regional military capacity, which would be potentially able to intervene in points of conflicts like the Syria, the Iraq or the Iran. This argument pokes on the contrary fear, at certain Europeans, of an expansion of the conflicts of the the Middle East to the whole of Europe.

Thanks to the European subsidies, the entry of Turkey in the EU would support a more stable economic growth, which would allow, in the long term, the installation of a democratic government. While following the Theory of the dominos, it could for this reason provide a model of secular democracy for the remainder of the the Middle East, comparable with the part played by the Western Europe during the Cold war. However, the majority religion of the adjoining countries is different from the Turkish religion, the Islam being divided into various currents, it is the same of the ethnos groups.

National points of view

Because of the national histories different from the Member States, certain arguments are valid only inside certain borders: the position vis-a-vis the accession of Turkey at the EU varies into 2004 of Member States of the EU to the other, just as the support or the opposition to the negotiations. The chiefs of the Member States must agree unanimously on the accession of Turkey so that it can be carried out.

the government of the Austria, then directed by ÖVP with the support of the extreme right-hand side, expressed reserves, in 2005, when it was decided to open the negotiations;
France being the country of Europe cash the most Moslems, citizens fear that an additional wave of immigrants mainly Moslem does not arrive, whereas some of them refuse to be integrated in the country. The former president Jacques Chirac indicated that the accession of Turkey was “its wish expensive”, thus going against the majority of French, according to surveys, against his own party, and chair it this one, Nicolas Sarkozy. However, Mr. Chirac made adopt a constitutional reform, aiming at subjecting to referendum future adhesions;
the Germany has a long story of diplomatic relations with Turkey. Part of the emigrated population of Turkish origin is favorable to the accession of Turkey. SPD is favorable to adhesion. CDU was opposite, but had to concede, in the agreement of great coalition, the acceptance of the negotiations with Turkey. Several elected officials of CDU (Friebert Flüger, president of group CDU-CSU to the the Bundestag, Harry Peter Karstensen, minister-president of the Schleswig-Holstein) had in any event made known their refusal of an opposition of principle to Turkish adhesion;
With the Denmark, the principal parties of left and right-hand side knew the same evolution: initially a certain skepticism, then a support for the opening of the negotiations, after a democratic clause of guarantee was introduced;
With the Netherlands, the left (Workers party and Socialist party), the liberals (VVD, Democraten 66) and part of the Christian-Democrats are favorable to adhesion. Part of the Christian-Democrats and the extreme line criticize it, but for different reasons: the first criticize less the principle than the degree of democratization of Turkey, the seconds propose the Moslem majority of Turkey.
the Portuguese government (socialist) is resolutely favorable to Turkish adhesion. The Portuguese Secretary of State to the European Businesses, Manual Lobo Antunes, rejected the idea formulated by Nicolas Sarkozy of a debate on the borders of Europe in December 2007, and added: “All the negotiations of adhesion have a goal: adhesion, once the criteria are filled. The agreements subscribed by the Member States must be respected. We think that it is important, fundamental that Turkey once joins the European Union it will have filled all the criteria. ” Mr. Lobo Antunes confirmed thereafter that its country was opposed to any rupture of the “dynamics of adhesion” and that “engagements must be honoured”. Portugal takes the rotating presidency of the EU on July 1st, 2007. - On its side, the social democrat Party (moderate right-wing opposition) is also favorable to adhesion.
In Sweden, Finland and Italy, there does not exist notable hostility with the Turkish candidature. The government Social-démocrate of Göran Persson was one of the most enthusiastic supports of its adhesion. Massimo d' Alema, current Italian Minister for the Foreign affairs, reaffirmed, on June 14th, 2007 that its country supports Turkish adhesion. In Spain, also a consensus between the Socialist party and the Popular party (right-hand side) in favor of adhesion prevails, and the king Juan Carlos was announced by his standpoint in this direction;
With the Luxembourg, the Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker is known as favorable on the principle of adhesion.
the Greece is divided on the subject. Georges Papandréou, president of the Socialist party, former Foreign Minister, decided in favor of adhesion. Greek the Prime Minister Kóstas Karamanlís (which was invited by the Prime Minister Erdogan for the weddings of his/her daughter) is one of most enthusiastic supporting. With Cyprus, a similar position prevails;
the countries of the Europe of the East are them also for the entry of Turkey in Europe, mainly by solidarity towards the new entrants. In Poland, is also added a historical good memory, which goes back to the 18th century: the Ottoman Empire had expressed its clear disapproval of the cutting-up of Poland by its neighbors (Prussia, Russia and Austria);
the Great Britain and Ireland are among more enthusiastic supports of the accession of Turkey, the British would be for the adhesion of this country in the EU.

Point of view in France

Point of view of the parties

At the time of the European elections 2004 and presidential campaign of 2007, certain parties put forward their points of view, in France. All in all, left cleavage right-hand side corresponds respectively to cleavage against for the entry of Turkey in the European Union. One finds exceptions however, as well on the right (Jacques Chirac), that on the left (Laurent Fabius).
Principal parties:

UMP: against the entry of Turkey in Europe, except notable for Jacques Chirac
Socialist party: favorable to the entry of Turkey in Europe, except for Laurent Fabius
UDF: against the entry of Turkey in Europe, but Francois Bayrou recommends the respect of engagements of France;

Other parties:

MPF : against the entry of Turkey in Europe;
FN: against the entry of Turkey in Europe;
Green: to accept the entry of Turkey, to support the democracy.
LCR: favorable to the entry of Turkey in Europe;
PC: favorable to the entry of Turkey in Europe;
CPNT: against the entry of Turkey in Europe;
France at the head: for a referendum;

Jean-Pierre Raffarin

The former Prime Minister declared: “Nothing condemns Turkey to the eternal exclusion of Europe. Today, we want resolutely that it (Turkey) leans European side. The entry in the Union makes it possible to fix the populations because it is a choice of identity, prosperity and freedom. The development is increasingly more human at the house. ”

Information paper of the French Senate of April 2004

The French senator expressed himself, following the report/ratio of April 2004, available in external bond.

Xavier de Villepin: “Turkey would grow itself to look at its past in a less brutal and less negative way. In particular on the Armenian genocide, one can consider it regrettable that Turkey refuses a pluralist and objective vision of its history. it would be good that Turkey becomes aware of the need for making itself more popular near our populations. ”
Hubert Durand-Chastel: “Europe advanced so much since 1963 qu' it is difficult not to go from the front one, whereas it is clear that the capital of Turkey is not in Europe, but in Anatolia. senate report/ratio underlines well that the economic interests are considerable and that one cannot neglect them. We know that Turkey is a laic Moslem country, but one can wonder whether the requirements of the European Union to reduce the role of the army, protective from secularity, will not support a Moslem revival. There is a risk for the future. That being, it is undeniable that the European voluntarism of the Turks is extraordinary and that they are persuaded to return in the Union in the long term. There would be thus very negative consequences to reject them without their proposing another viable formula of association. To propose a privileged partnership would be essential in the event of refusal of adhesion to mitigate the effects of such a decision. ”
Robert Del Picchia: “It is true that the Turks have difficulties in look at their past, but the negotiations of adhesion can help there. As regards Cyprus for example, they showed great capacities of evolution; they will be able to perhaps become aware of the stakes of last thanks to the negotiations. I really believe that, if Turkey respects the political criteria of Copenhagen, the negotiations should be opened. That does not prejudge obviously an exit of these negotiations. But I do not think that one can say today in a reasonable way that Turkey cannot adhere to the European Union: the answer to this question could be brought only later on, according to the negotiations. ”
Maurice Blin: “Turkey is a country from where several empires emerged. In fact also the only Moslem country, under the aegis of Atatürk, knew a change of such a width, which proves its obvious capacities of transformation. Lastly, Turkey is a country of 70 million inhabitants and the half of this very important population is authentically Asian. It is undeniable that, because of the risks of destabilization, it would be serious to say not absolutely. Are there then more moderate formulas which would make it possible to open negotiations? The length of the negotiations considered - one speaks fifteen years sometimes - would give a margin of appreciation of the validity of these negotiations. ”
Jacques Chaumont: “It is important to take into account which Turkey is the second station of cultural co-operation of France. We have the chance that, thanks to these schools, the Turkish elite is often French-speaking. ”
Pierre Fauchon: “The major fact is that the Turkish population is very important and one cannot make decisions concerning a country of 70 million inhabitants as one can do it for countries definitely smaller. It will be in a few most years the people of Europe. It is naturally necessary to encourage the efforts of Turkey to fill the criteria of Copenhagen; if I am reserved enough all the same, it is because there are the texts and manners. There is all the same in this area more than 10 million Kurds, company of the tribal type. I doubt besides that the Kurdish problem is stabilized; there continue to be incidents. The Turkish population is ultimately very heterogeneous compared to the European populations and it forever be European. Same manner that Catholicism was extremely present in our companies a few centuries ago, Islam is a religion prégnante on the company. Turkey should obviously be helped to consolidate its secularity, but there does not exist any certainty for the future. It would be perhaps urgent to set up a specific system of association with Turkey, which would not prevent from going beyond later on. I respect Turkish civilization completely, like Indian civilization, but it is not European civilization. ”
Robert Del Picchia: “With regard to demography, the ten countries which will adhere on May 1st represent about the population of Turkey. Moreover, Turkish demography clearly decreased right now and it is stabilized on a level slightly higher at the French level. In fine , one can think that this population should hardly exceed that of Germany, even by taking of account the probable fall of the German population. ”
Strong Yann: “The problem of the candidates' file of Turkey for the European Union is that the business is regulated… Opening of negotiations on a very long term is perhaps a solution of wisdom. Meanwhile, of the countries as Bulgaria will be Member States and it will be interesting, taking into account the historical links between Bulgaria and Turkey, to know the feeling of this country on the accession of Turkey. In any case, it is certainly not our interest to create a traumatism in Turkey today. In addition, it is true that one can consider it regrettable that the Turks remain also closed on the question of the Armenian genocide. ”
Jacques Blanc: “Traditional engagements of France result in opening the negotiations naturally without it being possible to say today where those will carry out. To open false debates is in this respect dramatic, because Turkey has an important weight demographic and it is a country at the same time Moslem and laic, which is rare. this question must also be looked taking into consideration Partenariat euroméditerranéen; there is a balance to find with the other countries partners which one should not place in a situation of frustration. ”
Robert Del Picchia: “I point out besides that the de Gaulle General put an end in 1963 to the British candidature after sixteen months of negotiations, which confirms that opening of negotiations does not imply an automatic decision. ”

Other points of view

Jacques Delors, former president of the European commission (1985/1995) declared, in the Evening-Éco dated 28- December 29th, 2002: “Today, after what we promised, to say not to Turkey would be to contribute to rancours, divisions, with movements of mass which endanger peace and mutual comprehension between the inhabitants of planet. ”

Anecdote

Only the Western part of Turkey appears on the chart of Europe drawn on the tickets in euro which are one of the most important symbols of the European Union.

See too

Diplomacy of Turkey
Human rights in Turkey

External bonds

Attitude of Europeans about widening
Defense of strong and coherent Europe, friendly and close to independent Turkey
Conference on " Stakes of the Turkish candidature for the Union européenne" by Kurdish Institute of Paris
European Turkey
Information paper of the French Senate on the candidature of Turkey for the European Union (April 2004)
Report of a report/ratio of the Belgian Senate, in December 2004
European Turkey: association for ambitious and pluralist Europe
File on widening and the Turkish candidature on the site of the French government
See also debate around the possible accession of Turkey in Europe

Vidéos

accession of Turkey to the European Union: distance myth or close reality? Panel on line in particular made up of the ex-first French minister Alain Juppe and the ex-mayor of Istanbul, Mr. Bedrettin Dalan.

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