Will Europe Open its Doors?
Arguments and Implications for Turkey's Accession to the EU
The possible accession of Turkey to the European Union is at the center of the controversy surrounding the EU's enlargement. Given the disparate histories of the EU member states, Turkey's own complex and battle-scarred history, and nationalistic considerations, the question of whether Turkey will ultimately be accepted as an EU member, with full rights and privileges, is one to which there are few clear-cut answers.
The debate surrounding this issue continues to gain momentum both in Turkey and in the European Union. France, with President Nicholas Sarkozy in the forefront, has taken a lead in opposing Turkey's prospective membership in the EU. The referendum on the EU Constitution brought to the fore the French public's reservations (Gauthier-Villars and Champion). Mr. Sarkozy stated, "I have not changed my mind: Turkey has no place in Europe, ? If I pose the question of Turkey, there will be no simplified treaty" (qtd. in "Sarkozy"). Sarkozy's comments are reflective of concerns not only about whether Turkey meets the EU's political criteria for accession, but also concerns that the Turkish accession will not be able to be managed in a way similar to other enlargements. Critics of Turkish accession also contend that "Turkey is too big, too poor, with too dangerous borders and insufficiently ?European' to join the Union" (Hughes 1). An analysis of the historical context, along with the arguments for and against Turkish membership in the EU, is essential to identifying the possible political and economic implications of Turkish accession to the EU for the Union itself.
History of Turkey's Bid for EU Memb ...