Turkey has taken important steps to qualify for membership, it has significantly improved the functioning of its market economy, the combination of healthy growth, falling inflation and a tight fiscal policy has made the Turkish economy more robust and resilient to shocks. With regard to the labour market, economic expansion has started to finally result in the recovery of some of the estimated 1 million jobs lost in the immediate wake of the 2001 economic crisis. Employment grew by 2% in 2004, allowing the official unemployment rate to drop to just 10% in the final quarter of the year. Economic recovery has also prompted a growth in wages, with both private and public sector wages increasing (by about 3% in real terms) for the first time since 2000. State interference in the economy has been reduced in recent years. Political influence on state banks has declined and important markets, such as electricity, telecommunication, sugar, tobacco and petroleum, have been liberalised. Turkey is still undergoing a transition from an agriculture based economy to a service oriented economy, although the share of employment in agriculture is still high.
The reduction of inflation to single digit figures in Turkey has made it possible for it to introduce the “New Lira”, which has been used alongside the Turkish lira since 1 January 2005. The Turkish lira is converted to the New Turkish lira as 1,000,000 = 1. Turkey has implemented permanent policies on human rights, abolished the death penalty, granted cultural rights to its large Kurdish minority, and taken positive steps to solve the . Turkey has reaffirmed its official position as a secular state, has abolished the death penalty, and has improved the status of women. Turkey has also been cognizant of the need to take steps to comply with the economic requirements of the EU, especially regarding budget deficit, current account, and trade regulations.
If Turkey is allowed to join the EU, it would bring with it the military power that it possesses. With 650,000 members, Turkey's military is the second largest armed force in NATO after the US. The size of Turkey's army is a direct product of long-lasting US military aid due to Turkey's shared border with the former USSR.
The accession of Turkey into the EU would demonstrate the inclusive idealism that prompted the formation of the EU in the first place. The inclusion of Turkey could be a means of reducing the tensions between Islam and the West that are now the main threat to world peace. EU accession would also foster the growth and modernisation of the Turkish economy and expand the zone of peace and prosperity into the Middle East. It would prove that liberal democracy on the European model is the best and fairest system of government in the history of the human race.
The Americans and the British are strongly in favour of Turkey joining the EU, as a member of NATO; Turkey was vital in the defeat of the Soviet Union in the Cold War and is equally important in the War today against Islamic extremism.
One of the conditions Turkey has to fulfill to join the EU is to incorporate and maintain positive and peaceful relations with neighbouring countries. If Turkey is allowed to join the EU, Armenians believe that a civilized Turkey is more apt to recognize the Armenian Genocide, lift its blockade of Armenia, and conduct peaceful relations with its neighbors. Also a more civilized Turkey would have to recognize the legitimacy of the Cyprus government and settles the conflict with Cyprus and remove its troops that invaded the northern part of Cyprus
The European commission report, forecast "slight" economic benefits for the EU if Turkey joins, but it also predicts major benefits for foreign policy. If Turkey joins then the EU reach into Turkey would help promote stability in the Mediterranean, Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asia. Also a transformation of Turkey should be supported: as Turkey would be an important model of a country with a majority Muslim population adhering to such fundamental principles as liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms such as the rule of law.
One of the reasons the EU was set up initially, was to ensure uniformity between all EU countries. Turkey stands to benefit from this, if they are allowed to join the EU. Some benefits are diplomatic, psychological, and nationalistic, and others are economic, technological, and qualitative. Not only will Turkey enjoy the open market of the EU, but also its labour force will be able to compete for opportunities within that larger market. However, to enjoy the benefits of the larger market, Turkey will have to raise the level of scientific and technical training of its labour force. It will also have to apply advanced technology in its production system to lower costs, increase efficiency, and improve the quality of the products and services it offers. In other words, it will have achieved the objective that has eluded its leaders for decades, namely being recognized as a developed country. The breakthrough will come with the commitment of Turkey's political and business leaders to a philosophy of development as the means to gain access to the EU membership. The commitment to such a philosophy will almost automatically lead to the building of institutions that facilitate development, including emphasis on science and technology, and rational decision making in the economy and the administration. This revolutionary transformation will be reflected in the daily life of the people.
Probably one of the most significant changes will be the higher cognition of the value of time. It will become important not to "waste" or use more time than necessary to perform any given function. Turkey and most of the Islamic and developing countries are often described as the "Inshallah (God Willing), Bukra (Tomorrow), Ma'alesh (Never mind)" or IBM societies whose motto is the following: You do things if God wills; you do them tomorrow rather than today; and if you do not do them at all, it does not matter. As a result, responsibility is put on God rather than on the doer; actions are postponed for convenience; and the failure to act goes unaccounted for. To join the EU Turkey will have to divorce itself from the IBM attitude and adopt the philosophy that time is scarce and therefore has value and must not be wasted. It will also become essential that the individual or the group is accountable for the use of time and the improvement of factor productivity.
Achieving membership in the EU will give Turkey another benefit that relates directly to productivity, namely a feeling of equality with advanced countries instead of the feeling of inferiority, which has permeated most Islamic, and developing countries. That feeling of inferiority, while vehemently denied, is reflected in the preference given to foreign products and foreign experts, and in hesitation to bid for projects that require advanced science and technology. This feeling of inferiority is often described as the "Khawaga Complex," or the foreign superiority complex. Kemal Ataturk initiated the movement to achieve Turkish equality with the European countries in the mid-1920s. Much has been achieved in the meantime, but the Khawaga Complex tends to persist, as reflected in government policies, educational institutions, and in the market place. Now Turkey can rid itself of that stigma, adopt the technology it needs, and improve its scientific and technological standards as needed. While Turkey describes itself as a secular state, it now will have the opportunity and the responsibility to separate the state from religion, not only in rhetoric, but also in action. Religion becomes a matter of personal conscience, belief, and behaviour, rather than an affair of the state, educational institutions, or business management. The reaffirmation of secularism should lead to changes in the status of women towards equality with men. The liberation of women from the religious and traditional constraints imposed on them will release an immense stock of human capital, which would be a great asset to the economy and the family.
Probably the most important international effect of Turkey's membership in the EU is that Turkey will become a model for other Islamic and developing countries by showing the way out of underdevelopment. By joining the EU Turkey will show that Islam can be reconciled with modernity, with secular government, and with rational economic and administrative decision-making. Turkey will also show that advanced science and technology are not an exclusive property of the developed countries, but are accessible and achievable by the countries that are lagging behind.
The benefits of Turkey's membership in the EU will also accrue to other members of the Union. They will have an enlarged market. They will have smoother relations with their own Muslim minorities, and they will free themselves of the charge of discrimination against Muslim countries in their public and international policies. Furthermore, admitting Turkey to the EU may be another way of combating fanatic Islam that calls for war against the "Christian West".
Another benefit the EU members will gain is access to the Turkish labour market. Now it will no longer be necessary to accommodate illegal migrant workers. Turkish workers, at all levels, will be able to compete for jobs within the EU market, but without legal residence or citizenship. When they finish the job they go home. The benefits to either side will not be free of costs.
Turkey will have to abandon old traditions, customs, and behaviour patterns that relate to economic and international relations. It will have to transform its institutions in ways that may have negative effects on certain vested interests. Turkey will also have to face much stronger economies in the competitive market of the EU, which may cause short-run dislocations to realize long-term gains. Although the EU will have to compromise by admitting a country long considered an outsider in culture, religion, level of development, and ideology, compromise is basic to building international relations
People have given various reasons why Turkey should not be allowed to join the EU, they include Turkey has witnessed three military coups (two proper ones in 1971 and 1980 and a "post-modern coup" in 1997), four devaluations of its extremely unstable currency and a 15 year civil war costing the Turkish Government more then $120 billion and claiming the lives of more then 30,000 people (mostly Kurds). Countries in the EU have not exactly been compassionate, multilateral and self-determining, Europe has participated in a number of recent battles, ranging from the First Gulf War to the bombing of Yugoslavia, not to mention its complicity in the UN sanctions on Iraq that have killed upwards of 1.5 million Iraqis. Britain, Italy, Poland and Spain have all contributed symbolically significantly to the most recent invasion and occupation of Iraq. While seemingly anti-war, both France and Germany have refused to take a firm stance against the invasion within the narrow confines of the UN.
EU countries officials have welcomed the idea of Turkey joining the EU, contrary to the public opinion in most EU countries which appears, with varying degrees of intensity, to oppose Turkish membership. France, Germany and Austria are the biggest opposes to the idea. Other European states claim that denying Turkey to a membership would brew future hostilities with other Muslim nations. The reasons citied for the opposition are Turkey’s large population, its relative poverty and doubts about its cultural compatibility with Europe
The negotiations that began in October had to go ahead as the EU's credibility would have been at stake, its leaders rebuffed, exposing the union as prejudiced and unreliable, as Ankara met the political criteria. If and when Turkey gains admission, it will have achieved a breakthrough by elevating its status from a traditional developing country to a modern fairly developed country. It will also have undergone a revolutionary transformation in its state philosophy, institutions, and system of administration, all of which will contribute to its new status.
The UK who has been one of the biggest countries in support of Turkey joining the EU, had a lot to say when membership talks finally began. Tony Blair said that October 3rd was an immensely significant day for Europe. It showed that those who believe that there is some fundamental clash of civilisations between Christians and Muslims are actually wrong, both groups can work together. UK foreign secretary Jack Straw said at the opening ceremony of the talk between the EU and Turkey that “the world has opened its eyes to a new day where the East, the West, Europe and Islam will move towards union rather than confrontation. It’s a big gift to the world.”
Arguments in favour of Turkey joining include the belief that this would bolster democratic institutions in Turkey, strengthen the EU economy, and reward Turkey for its strong and consistent pro-NATO stance. Proponents also argue that it abides by all conditions for accession. Some believe that the EU can no longer refuse Turkey, as it has had an open candidacy for over 40 years, and has made major improvements in human rights in order to satisfy the entry conditions. Further, admitting Turkey a mostly Muslim country would send a strong signal to the rest of the world that a “clash of civilizations” could be avoided.
If Turkey is allowed membership into the EU, it should be a boom to both parties, the EU and the Turkey.
BIBLIOGRAPGY
Collins, S. What the Turks have done to join the EU club: Sunday Tribune, 9/10/05
Can Turkey Join the EU: www. Federal Union Turkey and the EU.htm
EU hails Turkey membership talks:
Head to head: Turkey and the EU:
Political Profile, Economic Profile, EU-Turkey Relations. http://europa.
eu.int/comm/enlargement/turkey/.htm
Repa, J. Analysis: EU views on Turkish bid.
Tonak, A. Turkey and the European Union.
What is EU Enlargement?
