EU official: Ending Turkey's EU bid would be a "fatal strategic mistake"

[Thəorətic Muslim]

Turkey's accession to the EU has been "politicized". Really? The accession of any nation into the EU has always been political. The Greek only joined if Cyprus was allow. EU's march westward is to have the former Warsaw Pact serve as a buffer.

If Turkiye wants to have a 6 man EU Accession team in it's Foreign Ministry there's nothing wrong with that. But putting it's complete political/economic/diplomatic weight is outrageous. Especially when it's been waiting almost 55 years. Poland ascended in 15 years, Finland & Norway in 3(granted they had formulated policies years prior to minimize time).

Take away Germany's ~21% of the EU's economy, UK ~18%. And what do you have?

Turkiye will be 6th by economic size in the EU. Dwarfing Poland 4x, Greece 4.6x. This has been accomplished without acceding to the EU. It was only in '95? When the Customs treaty came into effect. Look at the growth rates without the EU. Turkiye is already integrated into the EU economically and militarily.

And 2nd by population, which is massive in the EU Parliament and receipts of subsidies. EU's aging population can only be supported so much with the current expansion eastward. It will need to look for a young population to nurse it's seniors. Who's it going to be? Somalis/Kenyans/Niger or some educated slightly secular?

 

[wiseone2]

Turkey should hold a general referendum regarding EU membership like we did with the presidential system. Simple majority wins. If 50%+1 person wants to continue the endless road of EU accession talks, we stay and the current status quo remains. If 50%+1 person say we should leave, we cut our losses and determine another path for our nation with the many alternatives out there.

could you elaborate on the many alternatives there ?

 

[Saithan]

All I see is some members throwing around tantrums. I think even RTE said that the EU (and democracy) was a process you ride it until you get off at a station.

Now I don't hope we get off the "democracy" train, but the EU ascension is a train we have been riding. And it's within the last 15-20 years that we've improved to better standards. Granted AKP and RTE did destroy many good institutions that were suppose to safeguard democracy. But as long as we have education and higher education and our ppl are educated there is still hope.

Yes EU is using the ascension as a political tool to push Turkey around, and our politicians let them. The immigrant deal is such an example of deals we're stuck with. But it can't all be that bad, if our well educated citizen don't travel abroad, they have to find their future in Turkey. We just need to have jobs for everyone, and unfortunately that, I think, is our main problem.

 

[Pax Ottomana]

could you elaborate on the many alternatives there ?

Basically the rest of the world. There are many countries (including individual EU member states) that Turkey can sign free-trade and/or preferred economic partnership agreements with.

 

[Thorough Pro]

No disrespect to my Turkish brothers, but I wish they do, it will set Turkey free.

God damn it! For a second there I was thinking (hoping) they'd actually be honest this time around and just say what's really in their heart. But no. Of course it's naive to think that the EU would be straightforward with Turkey. Looks like they're going to opt for making Turkey wait at the door for another 50 years.

 

[Pax Ottomana]

No disrespect to my Turkish brothers, but I wish they do, it will set Turkey free.

Turkey is de-facto treating the EU as if they've already shut the door on us because, well, they de-facto have done exactly that. But both sides like to pretend otherwise for various geopolitics reasons.

 

[A.P. Richelieu]

Turkey is de-facto treating the EU as if they've already shut the door on us because, well, they de-facto have done exactly that. But both sides like to pretend otherwise for various geopolitics reasons.

Turkey has already walked away far from that door.
It knows quite well what is required, but has chosen to go a different route.
If anything, the recent issues with Poland and Hungary, means that requirements should be stricter.

 

[Pax Ottomana]

Turkey has already walked away far from that door.
It knows quite well what is required, but has chosen to go a different route.
If anything, the recent issues with Poland and Hungary, means that requirements should be stricter.

Turkey will never satisfy the #1 requirement of EU membership: Being a Christian country.

Everything else is basically bullschit bureaucracy and political rhetoric..

 

[A.P. Richelieu]

Turkey will never satisfy the #1 requirement of EU membership: Being a Christian country.

Everything else is basically bullschit bureaucracy and political rhetoric..

I predict that Bosnia and Herzegovina will be a member before Turkey.
Then maybe Turkey will start to address the real issues, or back off.

 

[Otonom Piyade]

It's quite obvious for all that Turkey's accession to EU membership is all empty rhetoric from both sides.. With Britain abandoning the sinking ship, it shows the direction which the union is heading, which is quite blunt. EU has been a great experiment for Germany which it's aim was to extend and exert its influence across Europe and have small European states as satellite states under German wings. What is also true is that Germany has been the locomotive engine in economy behind the union towing and bailing out troubled economies within the union, with a cutting edge industrial sector that's continuously evolving over time with a sole aim to export high-end technological products around the globe, it's the only economy within the union that's consistent with growths over time. Where as states like Greece, Spain, Ireland and Italy need consistent handouts from Germany to prevent stagnating and this makes them reliant on Germany, having to follow orders and policies as dictated by Germany.

Turkey being in EU would enable Turkey to not only duplicate Germany's industrial-tech sector, in the longer run it would be in direct competition with Germany and this would be unfavourable by Germany.

For now Turkey would still leave the membership talks open still knowing it would never come to reality, but it will still keep EU politics on a positive level since we're neighbours and as we all know, it's the interest of everyone to get along with your neighbours for a positive outcome for all.

 

[HannibalBarca]

Everytime I hear the EU adhesion trump card for Turkey I always feel ashamed... it's like someone playing with a bone in front of a dog...
I wish TR will stop & say f*ck off one and for all... it's becoming a subject of mockery in EU...

anyway GL

 

[Pax Ottomana]

I predict that Bosnia and Herzegovina will be a member before Turkey.
Then maybe Turkey will start to address the real issues, or back off.

LOL, I'll believe it when I see it. But even if by some miracle it happens, let's note a few things:
1. Bosnia is practically at the center of the EU geographically.
2. Bosnia is a tiny country.
3. Bosnia has a tiny population.
4. Islam is barely the majority religion in Bosnia at only 51%.

But nice try. LOL.

 

[A.P. Richelieu]

LOL, I'll believe it when I see it. But even if by some miracle it happens, let's note a few things:
1. Bosnia is practically at the center of the EU geographically.
2. Bosnia is a tiny country.
3. Bosnia has a tiny population.
4. Islam is barely the majority religion in Bosnia at only 51%.

But nice try. LOL.

You just agreed that beeing muslim is not the problem.
Pissing everyone off in the EU, is a much more important thing.

 

[Pax Ottomana]

You just agreed that beeing muslim is not the problem.
Pissing everyone off in the EU, is a much more important thing.

LOL. No, I didn't. In fact my point is the exact opposite. That said, I can't cure idiocy so please move on.

 

[A.P. Richelieu]

LOL. No, I didn't. In fact my point is the exact opposite. That said, I can't cure idiocy so please move on.

That point is far from proven.
Turkey has choosen not to comply with the stated requirements for members.
That is more important than anything else.