Should Turkey Join the European Union?

For decades negotiations have been ongoing on Turkey eventually joining the European Union if and when it ever does. The reasons it has taken so long are complex but fundamental.

Human Rights, the Justice System and Freedom of Speech

          One of the key areas of concern is Turkey's history and ongoing struggle with its human rights record. This includes among other things, its justice system which is perceived as being highly corrupt as well as laws that restrict the right of free speech. These issues go against some of the very ideals on which the EU has been based and bringing the way Turkey manages its affairs up to the EU's high standards will take Turkey many years to complete. In relation to human rights there is also the issue of Turkey's Kurdish minority who often claim of ill treatment towards them by the state. Due to Europe's history in terms of the treatment of minorities, such treatment could not be permitted or ignored by an institution such as the EU. As such, if Turkey wishes to continue on its road to EU membership it will have to substantially change it judiciary and legal systems and enshrine under law the protection of the freedom of speech and the protection of minorities such as the Kurds. Neither of these issues will be quick or easy to address and will take many years to complete. Jut by simply looking at these issues we can say that Turkey is unlikely to be joining the European family any time soon.

Religion and Cultural Assimilation

          Even if Turkey did comply with the EU's high standards for membership, would the EU and its member states who each hold a veto on admitting new members want Turkey. Many current members of the EU are concerned about whether Turkey would fit within the EU on both a religious and cultural level. Many fear that mass immigration from Turkey to the rest of the EU and these people's failure to adequately assimilate into their new homes will cause tension within the EU's current population. This could go on to cause a rise in extremist and xenophobic elements within these countries and questioning the very foundations on which the EU is based. Reasonably this raises the question of whether allowing Turkey in to the EU is actually worth the risk. Simply, Turkey's accession problems won't end the day if and when it does join the EU, that will just be half the story. This work will have to continue for years after when Turkey eventually does join in order to adapt and assimilate Turkey's population in to the EU. So simply looking at it from a cultural and religious level, Turkey will be the biggest challenge the EU has ever faced it terms of admitting and assimilating a new member state.

Cyprus

          Now there is the issue of Cyprus. Turkey currently doesn't recognise Cyprus which is already an EU member state. If this continues to be the case, Cyprus is likely to veto any vote on Turkey joining the EU and as accession requires unanimity among the EU's member states, unless this issue is resolved, Turkey will never join the EU. Thus, a resolution needs to be made between the northern and southern halves of the Cypriot island in which is recognised by both Turkey and the international community. This is currently being brokered with the aid of many parties including the United Nations but again will take years to resolve.

Geography

          There is also the matter of geography. There are those who argue that Turkey shouldn't join the EU due to only a small portion of the country being actually located in Europe. By allowing Turkey to join, this could open the EU up to applications from other countries completely outside the European continent. This could create many political problems for the EU in relation to whom they should allow to join and who they shouldn't and where the EU's borders actually lie. This, I believe, should not be the sole basis of rejecting Turkey's application to join the EU but the geographical and diplomatic implications of allowing Turkey to join should be considered.

Conclusion

          In conclusion, I don't believe Turkey is ready to join the EU and I doubt it will be for many years, if not decades, to come. It may be that Turkey's accession talks eventually prove impossible to complete and thus a new type of association with the EU should be considered. However, I don't think we should give up hope of Turkey's eventual EU membership just yet and it is something that should remain on the table.

Thanks for reading,

Jason