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Why Turkey should enter the EU


Given my nationality and the upbringing to which I was subjected to in my childhood, skeptical was always a word that described my approach to Greece’s eastern neighbor. Given the multitude of problems, explosive at times, between Greece and Turkey, Greece was indirectly, though succinctly, manipulated so as to personify the reason why Turkey should be kept at a safe distance from Europe

LIKOURGOS HRISTAKOS

PARIS – TDN Guest Writer

We watch with great interest as developments unfold, bringing Turkey to the door of the European continent. Admittedly, never before has a candidate country caused so much stress and analysis in the circles of current members. The dialogue and debate should not necessarily be taken as a negative attribute to this evolution, for after a recent enlargement that led to what could be likened to a teratogenesis of sorts, with now 25 constituent countries, the new European Union organism has endured some growing pains and has not yet had time to make itself whole. Sadly, world developments do not have the courtesy to await the “gentle” EU to connect and reconnect its pieces so as to find the most appropriate and convenient modus vivendi.

I have personally been following, with restrained excitement, the events of the constantly perturbed pilgrimage of Turkey to the EU.
Given my nationality and the upbringing to which I was subjected to in my childhood, skeptical was always a word that described my approach to Greece’s eastern neighbor. Given the multitude of problems, explosive at times, between Greece and Turkey, Greece was indirectly, though succinctly, manipulated so as to personify the reason why Turkey should be kept at a safe distance from Europe. After many decades of intense mini-eruptions, Imia-Kardak, the most impressive and ridiculous case, during which former Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, along with his ministerial team, decided to abrogate, if you will, this immemorial root of animosity and declare that Greek foreign policy had changed. Evidence of this is alive today as the role of Turko-skeptics has been passed on to the French, Austrians and Danes, among others…
If we look at this event, an event that single-handedly re-diverted Greek-Turkish relations and, to an extent, Balkan politics, to a different destination, generally free of potential icebergs, one cannot help but feel fortunate to witness such a change.

Would this have been possible without the response of the Turkish government? Certainly not. If one wishes to retain clarity in this analysis then one cannot fail to rejoice at a manifested desire, coming from both sides, for a new convivial form of coexistence. The fact that this comes with an increased interest in interacting constructively is even more fascinating. For now, it is all sweating under the sun, but how beautiful these rare and precious moments are when people who are so different come together.
But now comes the difficult decision of the EU. One has to pose the inevitable questions: Why does Turkey want to join the EU and why would the EU want Turkey as a member. 

Before we rush, full of excitement, to find a thousand and one arguments pour ou contre, let us look at the evidence. Turkey has been changing rapidly, actually more rapidly than Europe itself. Indeed, when you have a long way to go, in the beginning changes are rather fast and visible. To put, for example, Sweden under the microscope and detect significant changes over  the last few years one would have a difficult time in detecting something extraordinary. Turkey, however, is an example of different proportions on this point. All people who have been involved with this country and have been following its steps in the last few decades are somewhat overwhelmed by excitement with all the changes that have taken place in just a few years.

Therein lies the danger: the fact that a whole block of years may have little to show but the last few attempts to prove that the situation, in all senses of the word, has improved. One pedantic observer might instantly be skeptical because quick changes oftentimes point to excessive excitement and the lack of long-term planning. Perhaps the solidity of this new and rapid political genesis is brittle and will not withstand time and pressure.

It is the task of developed countries, long-time EU members in particular, to monitor this apparent stability and attempt to strengthen it. Turkey borders the EU and it lies in one of the most sensitive and important regions on the geopolitical map. The powerful anchor that Turkey can offer, Europe’s path to the east, with many more advantages than disadvantages, has to be seriously thought of and appreciated. Turkey’s large market, expansive and, to a great extent, virgin territory along with its young population, given the stagnant, at best, population growth in current EU members are factors whose importance cannot be stressed enough.

Are our EU leaders not to blame when we bitterly realize that they have not yet formed an opinion about Turkey, nearly 40 years after Turkey expressed interest in joining the union? A chaotic cacophony of political ambitions, reservations, desires, conditions, excitements and reassurances are the daily offerings from which we may nourish our political hunger.

One reads something new every day. I wonder how any current member country would feel if they were placed under a microscope and if one dissecting surgical incision simply led to another. The European public has NEVER been properly informed about Turkey. So many articles, discussions and books, but when will the EU start to educate its people on potential applicants? Ukraine is fighting its own battle and it believes it has every right to cultivate its aspirations that will bring it to the safe haven (?) of the European harbor. Will our leaders, reporters and intellectuals please dedicate some time to this issue to avoid the insult and ridicule of another potential applicant?
As for Turkey’s shortcomings and old reflexes demonstrated in the last couple of months, one may find them bitter to swallow, but then reactions of self-defense are eminent when one feels threatend.

Should Turkey discuss the reopening of the theological school in Halki and the ecumenical character of the patriarch of Constantinople? Should Turkey have removed the largest number of its estimated 35,000 soldiers in Cyprus? Should Turkey be able to talk about the alleged Armenian genocide? Should Turkey solve the outstanding issues of property and liberty rights of its different religious minorities? Should Turkey discuss improvement in the living standards and the freedom of its Kurdish people?

Yes, it should commence these discussions, and the latest developments show this is happening. This is what encourages most supporters of Turkey. Most importantly, Turkey’s aspirations for the EU involve its wish to not only address all the important issues mentioned above but also factors related to the future of its young population, a population that depends on the EU and deserves to be considered as honorable people.
The reason Turkey should enter the EU is that it has shown that it can undertake the necessary steps to improve the living standards of its own citizens. Though these steps lie far from asserting a social system that can be compared to that of the EU, can we deny it is moving in the right direction?

Personally, I appreciate the main reason why Turkey wants to become a part of Europe. It wants its children to enjoy a life of liberty, prosperity and respect, three foundations of the modern European family of countries.
Should this hope be linked to where we draw the borders of Europe or Asia or to what percentage the Ottoman civilization was influenced by or influenced Greco-Roman civilization or to whether it was the Arabs who preserved the works of Aristotle? Indeed, let us discuss all of these issues, but not alone by silent, cold and oftentimes one-sided newspaper articles, but rather in a cafe with our Turkish hosts in Istanbul, one of the most important cities of Europe.

Likourgos Hristakos
Paris