EU and Turkey

I am aware this is a touchy subject. I don't want to open a pandora's box but I do want to have some answers: why should Turkey join the European Union? In the recent weeks and months I have heard numerous politicians speak out in favor of Turkey joining the Union but I am not sure someone managed to convince me why that should be an issue of outmost importance.

It all dates back to the Ankara Association Agreement which became effective on 1. December 1964. Turkey feared to be left behind Greece, which had already signed its own association agreement with the EC. The EC-Turkey Association Agreement laid out three stages for EC-Turkey relations: preparatory, transitional and final. The final stage made provisions for full membership, however, no timetable was provided for this. Article 28 of the Association Agreement stipulates that

as soon as the operation of the agreement has advanced far enough to justify envisaging full acceptance by Turkey of the obligations arising out of the Treaty establishing the Community, the Contracting Parties shall examine the possibility of the accession of Turkey to the Community.

So let's examine.

As a child I've always wondered why Israel was participating in the Eurovision Song Contest. To the best of my knowledge, Israel isn't really part of Europe. But, as I learned later, Israel is a full member of the European Broadcasting Union which is in charge of the Contest. (By the way, other non-European full members of the EBU include Libya, Jordan and Egypt.) When Dana International won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1998 though, Israel didn't become a candidate country. So why did Turkey become a candidate in 1999?

Politicians often state that accepting Turkey into the Union would mean more external security for Europe. Turkey has shared borders with Iraq, Iran, and Azerbaijan. I don't quite see an increase in security here. And yes, certainly, Turkey has been a member of NATO since 1952, so from a defense standpoint, our relations with Turkey have always been close, independent of EU membership.

So it must be economic reasons then. But wait. Norway isn't a member of the EU. Neither are Iceland or Liechtenstein. Yet the EU has very strong economic ties with these countries, mostly governed by the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA Agreement is in force since 1994 and extends the Single Market legislation, with the exception of Agriculture and Fisheries. There has been an existing Customs Union between Turkey and the EU since 1995. To increase and further foster trade between Turkey and the Union, wouldn't an extension of the present Customs Union or the creation of a trade bloc serve that purpose?

Turkey's gross domestic product per capita is US$ 6,700 (2003 est.). Compare that to Lithuania (US$ 11,400), Portugal (US$ 18,000) or Germany (US$ 27,600). Inflation rates have been at 20% or higher. Agriculture still makes up 33% of total employment. Yet Turkey has a population of 70 million and would be one of the largest EU member states by the time it might join the Union. Are those numbers indicating that Turkey is an attractive bride? Why Turkey? Why not Chile?

I am not looking for a discussion about religion. This isn't about Islam. This isn't about Christianity. I am just looking for some possible arguments in favor of Turkey's EU candidacy.

To quote Kemal Ataturk:

The West has always been prejudiced against the Turks ... but we Turks have always consistently moved towards the West ... In order to be a civilized nation, there is no alternative.