Turkey and the European Union

After years of debate and argument for and against Turkey's entry into the European Union, on 3 October 2005 Ankara finally got the green light to begin in earnest the process of joining the economic and political power bloc, although many question whether it belongs. A last-ditch effort by Austria to grant Turkey a status of less than full membership was quashed with unprecedented pressure from the British and behind-the-scenes manipulations from Washington.

Though public opinion in Europe diverges on whether Turkey fulfils the conditions of the Rome Treaty (which limits EU membership to states that are geographically in Europe), in this case a purely political-strategic decision was made to bring the EU in line with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, in which Turkey played a vital role during the Cold War. The assumption still is that NATO is critical for the defense of Western interests, and since almost all EU members are also NATO members, a case can be made that Turkey's entry into EU could enhance the value of both.

Even though many are willing to broaden the concept "Europe" beyond its geographic borders, for political reasons and with unexplained encouragement from London and Washington, Ankara seems determined to exaggerate its role and geographic significance and routinely seeks to alter the conditions under which it was invited to join an already existing entity. But there is no wiggle room or opportunity for bluffing for any aspiring members; they either accept all conditions for accession or don't bother to apply.

As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and a firm believer in diversity, I hope the leadership of Turkey takes a closer look at the conditions and obligations assumed by all states that seek to join the EU and abandons the notion that it deserves special accommodations never asked for or granted to another aspiring member.

Progress in several areas that define freedom and democracy will ultimately determine whether Turkey truly deserves to join an association of democratic states. Ankara should harbor no illusions that it can redefine the criteria set forth at the Copenhagen Council in 1993, the EU Commission report of 2004, and the invitation to accession of 3 October 2005, conditions under which the accessions process could commence.

Negotiations are opened on the basis that Turkey sufficiently meets the political criteria set by the Copenhagen European Council in 1993, for the most part later enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights. The Union expects Turkey to sustain the process of reform and to work towards further improvement in the respect of principles of liberty, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including relevant European case law; to consolidate and broaden legislation and implementation measures specifically in relation to zero tolerance policy in the fight against torture and ill-treatment and implementation of provisions relating to freedom of expression, freedom of religion, women's rights, ILO [International Labor Organization] standards including trade union rights, and minority rights.¹

Moreover, the 3 October 2005 accession document requires Turkey to avoid aggressive practices toward its neighbors and to seek a final solution to the Cyprus issue, or at least to stand aside and leave Greek and Turkish Cypriots to resolve their differences.

But it is quite apparent that on all issues that will ultimately determine Turkey's European orientation, its governments have displayed an attitude that borders on contempt. This is evident in its approach to the fate of the ecumenical patriarchate and its historic school at Halki, the Cyprus issue, minority rights, good neighborly relations, its evasive neutrality toward the US role in Iraq, and the failure of the civilian government to control the military effectively—the solutions to which are preconditions for joining a union that is not predisposed to alter its rules in order to accommodate an applicant's demands. The leaders of Turkey must finally realize that the EU existed for many decades before they started their own quest for admission in earnest. To assert a right to reinterpret its rules, values, and laws in...