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Turkey's application to accede to the European Union was made on 14 April 1987. Turkey has been an associate member of the European Union (EU) and its predecessors since 1963.[2] After the ten founding members, Turkey was one of the first countries to become a member of the Council of Europe in 1949, and was also a founding member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 1961[3] and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in 1973. The country has also been an associate member of the Western European Union since 1992, and is a part of the "Western Europe" branch of the Western European and Others Group (WEOG) at the United Nations. Turkey signed a Customs Union agreement with the EU in 1995 and was officially recognised as a candidate for full membership on 12 December 1999, at the Helsinki summit of the European Council. Negotiations were started on 3 October 2005, and the process, should it be in Turkey's favour, is likely to take at least a decade to complete.[4] The membership bid has become a major controversy of the ongoing enlargement of the European Union.[5]
History
Background
After the Ottoman Empire's collapse following World War I, Turkish revolutionaries led by Mustafa Kemal Atatrk emerged victorious in the Turkish War of Independence, establishing the modern Turkish Republic as it exists today. Atatrk, President of Turkey, implemented a series of reforms, including secularization and industrialization, intended to modernize the country.[6] During World War II, Turkey remained neutral until February 1945, when it joined the Allies. The country took part in the Marshall Plan of 1947, became a member of the Council of Europe in 1949,[7] and a member of NATO in 1952.[8] During the Cold War, Turkey allied itself with the United States and Western Europe.
[edit] 1960s1990s
The country first applied for associate membership in the European Economic Community in 1959, and on 12 September 1963 signed the "Agreement Creating An Association Between The Republic of Turkey and the European Economic Community", also known as the Ankara Agreement. This agreement came into effect the following year on 12 December 1964. The Ankara Agreement sought to integrate Turkey into a customs union with the EEC whilst acknowledging the final goal of membership.[6] In November 1970, a further protocol called the "Additional Protocol" established a timetable for the abolition of tariffs and quotas on goods traded between Turkey and the EEC.[6] On 14 April 1987, Turkey submitted its application for formal membership into the European Community. The European Commission responded in December 1989 by confirming Ankaras eventual membership but also by deferring the matter to more favorable times, citing Turkeys economic and political situation, as well its poor relations with Greece and the conflict with Cyprus as creating an unfavorable environment with which to begin negotiations.[9] This position was confirmed again in the Luxembourg European Council of 1997 in which accession talks were started with central and eastern European states and Cyprus, but not Turkey. During the 1990s, Turkey proceeded with a closer integration with the European Union by agreeing to a customs union in 1995. Moreover, the Helsinki European Council of 1999 proved a milestone as the EU recognised Turkey as a candidate on equal footing with other potential candidates.
[edit] 2000s
The next significant step in TurkeyEU relations came with the December 2002 Copenhagen European Council.[10] According to it, "the EU would open negotiations with Turkey 'without delay' if the European Council in December 2004, on the basis of a report and a recommendation from the Commission, decides that Turkey fulfills the Copenhagen political criteria."[10] The European Commission recommended that the negotiations should begin in 2005, but also added various precautionary measures. The EU leaders agreed on 16 December 2004 to start accession negotiations with Turkey from 3 October 2005.[11] Despite an offer from the Austrian People's Party and the German Christian Democratic Union of a privileged partnership status, a less than full membership, EU accession negotiations were officially launched.[12] Turkey's accession talks have since been stalled by a number of domestic and external problems. Both Austria and France have said they would hold a referendum on Turkey's accession. In the case of France, a change in its Constitution was made to impose such a referendum, but later another constitution change has enabled the parliament (if a large majority of its members agrees) to prevent such a referendum.[13] The issue of Cyprus continues to be a major obstacle to negotiations.[14] European officials have commented on the slowdown in Turkish reforms which, combined with the Cyprus problem, led the EUs Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn in March 2007 to warn of an impeding train crash in the negotiations.[15] Due to these setbacks, negotiations again came to a halt in December 2006, with the EU freezing talks in 8 of the 35 key areas under negotiation.[16]
[edit] Future
The earliest date that Turkey could enter the EU is 2013, the date when the next financial perspectives (the EU's six year budgetary perspectives) will come into force. Ankara is currently aiming to comply with EU law by this date,[17] but Brussels has refused to back 2013 as a deadline.[18] In 2006 European Commission President Jos Manuel Barroso said that the accession process will take at least until 2021.[19]
[edit] Timeline
Turkey joined the Council of Europe in 1949 and is regarded as a founding member of the organization 31 July 1959 Turkey applies for associate membership in the European Economic Community. 12 September 1963 Association Agreement signed, acknowledging the final goal of membership. 1 December 1964 Association Agreement comes into effect.[6] 23 November 1970 Protocol signed providing a timetable for the abolition of tariffs and quotas on goods. 1980 Freeze in relations following the 1980 Turkish coup d'tat. 1983 Relations fully restored following elections. 14 April 1987 Application for formal membership into the European Community. 18 December 1989 European Commission refuses to immediately begin accession negotiations, citing Turkeys economic and political situation, poor relations with Greece and their conflict with Cyprus, but overall reaffirming eventual membership as the goal. 6 March 1995 European Union-Turkey Customs Union is formed. 12 December 1999 European Council recognises Turkey as a candidate on equal footing with other potential candidates. 12 December 2002 European Council states that "the EU would open negotiations with Turkey 'without delay' if Turkey fulfills the Copenhagen criteria."
24 April 2004 Turkey & Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus back the Annan Plan for Cyprus. 17 December 2004 European Union agrees to start negotiations. 3 October 2005 Opening of 6 chapters of the Acquis: Right of Establishment & Freedom To Provide Services, Company Law, Financial Services, Information Society & Media, Statistics, and Financial Control. 12 June 2006 Chapter on Science & Research opened and closed. 11 December 2006 Continued dispute over Cyprus prompts the EU to freeze talks on 8 chapters and state that no chapters would be closed until a resolution is found.[20] 29 March 2007 Chapter on Enterprise & Industrial Policy opened.[21] 25 June 2007 Chapter on Statistics & Financial Control opened, but the opening of the chapter on Economic & Monetary Policy was blocked by French President Nicolas Sarkozy. [22] 20 December 2007 Chapters on Health & Consumer Protection and Trans-European Networks are opened.[23] 17 June 2008 Chapters on Company Law and Intellectual Property Law are opened.[24] 19 December 2008 Chapters on Free Movement of Capital and Information Society & Media are opened.[25] 30 June 2009 Chapter on Taxation is opened.[26] 8 December 2009 Chapter on Environment is opened.[27] 30 June 2010 Chapter on Food Safety, Veterinary & Phytosanitary Policy is opened.
Turkey's membership would also affect future enlargement plans, especially the number of nations seeking EU membership,[15] grounds on which Valry Giscard d'Estaing has opposed Turkey's admission. Giscard has suggested that it would lead to demands for accession by Morocco. Morocco's application is already rejected on geographic grounds; while Turkey, unlike Morocco, has small territory in Europe (which includes Istanbul, its largest city ; however only 3% of Turkey's territory is in Europe[42]). French President Nicolas Sarkozy stated in January 2007 that "enlarging Europe with no limit risks destroying European political union, and that I do not accept...I want to say that Europe must give itself borders, that not all countries have a vocation to become members of Europe, beginning with Turkey which has no place inside the European Union."[43] EU member states must unanimously agree on Turkey's membership for the Turkish accession to be successful. A number of nations may oppose it; notably Austria, which historically served as a bulwark for Christian Europe against the Ottoman Empire whose armies twice laid siege to Vienna in 1529 and 1683; and France, where some are anxious at the prospect of a new wave of Muslim immigrants, given the country's already large Muslim community. Negotiations to remove the French constitutional requirement for a compulsory referendum on all EU accessions after Croatia resulted in a new proposal to require a compulsory referendum on the accession of any country with a population of more than 5% of the EU's total population; this clause would mainly apply to Turkey and Ukraine.[44] The French Senate, however, blocked the change in the French constitution, in order to maintain good relations with Turkey.[45] Current constitution situation is as follows : if 3/5 of the delegates (from the Senate+the Parliament) agree to the Turkey accession, there would be no referendum.
Economy
Turkey has the world's 15th largest GDP-PPP[1] and 17th largest Nominal GDP.[46] The country is a founding member of the OECD and the G-20 major economies. Turkey has taken advantage of a customs union with the European Union, signed in 1995, to increase its industrial production destined for exports, while at the same time benefiting from EUorigin foreign investment into the country.[47] In 2008, Turkey's exports reached 141.8 billion USD[48] (main export partners: Germany 11.2%, UK 8%, Italy 6.95%, France 5.6%, Spain 4.3%, USA 3.88%; total EU exports 56.5%.) However, larger imports amounting to about 204.8 billion USD[48] threaten the balance of trade (main import partners: Russia 13.8%, Germany 10.3%, China 7.8%, Italy 6%, USA 4.8%, France 4.6%, Iran 3.9%, UK 3.2%; total EU imports 40.4%; total Asia imports 27%).[49][50] The opening of talks regarding the Economic and Monetary Policy acquis chapter of Turkey's accession bid was expected to begin in June 2007, but were stalled by France.[51]
Population
As of 2005, the population of Turkey stood at 71.5 million with a yearly growth rate of 1.5%.[52] [53] The Turkish population is relatively young, with 25.5% falling within the 015 age bracket. [54] Turkey's large population would alter the balance of power in the representative European institutions. Upon joining the EU, Turkey's 78 million inhabitants would bestow it the second largest number of MEPs in the European Parliament.[55] Demographic projections indicate that Turkey would surpass Germany in the number of seats by 2020.[55]
Religion
Turkey has a secular constitution, with no official state religion.[61] Nominally, though, 99% of the Turkish population is Muslim[62][63] of whom over 70% belong to the Sunni branch of Islam. A sizeable minority, about over 25% of the Muslim population, is affiliated with the Shi'a Alevi branch.[64] The Christians (Eastern Orthodox, Catholic, Gregorian, Syriac, Protestant) and Jews (Sephardic, Ashkenazi) were formerly sizable religious minorities in the country. Turkey would be the first Muslim-majority country to join the European Union, although Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo[dubious discuss] are also Muslim-majority, and have been recognized as potential candidate countries.[65] Official population census polls in Turkey do not include information regarding a person's religious belief or ethnic background due to the regulations set by the Turkish constitution, which defines all citizens of the Republic of Turkey as Turkish in terms of nationality, regardless of faith or race.[66] There is a strong tradition of secularism in Turkey. The state has no official religion nor promotes any, and actively monitors the area between the religions.[67] The constitution recognizes the freedom of religion for individuals, whereas religious communities are placed under the protection of the state; but the constitution explicitly states that they cannot become involved in the political process (by forming a religious party, for instance) or establish faith-based schools. No party can claim that it represents a form of religious belief; nevertheless, religious sensibilities are generally represented through conservative parties.[67] Turkey prohibits by law the wearing of religious headcover and theo-political symbolic garments for both sexes in government buildings, schools, and universities;[68] the law was upheld by the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights as "legitimate" in the Leyla ahin v. Turkey case on 10 November 2005.[69]
Women's rights
Turkey gave women the right to vote in 1930 for municipal elections. In 1934 this right was expanded for the national elections, while women were also given the right for becoming elected as MPs in the Turkish Parliament, or for being appointed as Ministers, Prime Minister, Speaker of the Parliament and President of the Republic. In 1993 Tansu iller became the first female Prime Minister of Turkey. In its second report on women's role in social, economic and political life in Turkey, the European Parliament emphasized that respecting human rights, including womens rights, is a condition sine qua non for Turkey's membership of the EU. According to the report, Turkey's legal framework on women's rights "has in general been satisfactory, but its substantive implementation remains flawed."[79]
Conscientious objectors
Turkey is one of two states (along with Azerbaijan) among the 47 members of the Council of Europe which refused to recognize the status of conscientious objectors or give them an alternative to military service.[80]
Public reactions
In the EU
Public opinion in EU countries generally opposes Turkish membership, though with varying degrees of intensity. The Eurobarometer SeptemberOctober 2006 survey [81] shows that 59% of EU-27 citizens are against Turkey joining the EU, while only about 28% are in favour. Nearly all citizens (about 9 in 10) expressed concerns about human rights as the leading cause. In the earlier MarchMay 2006 Eurobarometer, citizens from the new member states were more in favour of Turkey joining (44% in favour) than the old EU-15 (38% in favour). At the time of the survey, the country whose population most strongly opposed Turkish membership was Austria (con: 81%), while Romania was most in favour of the accession (pro: 66%). On a wider political scope, the highest support comes from the Turkish Cypriot Community (pro: 67%) (which is not recognised as sovereign state and is de facto not EU territory and out of the European institutions). These communities are even more in favour of the accession than the Turkish populace itself (pro: 54%). [82] Opposition in Denmark to Turkish membership was polled at 60% in October 2007, despite the Danish government's support for Turkey's EU bid.[83]
[edit] In Turkey
Wikinews has related news: EU sets date for membership talks with Turkey The opening of membership talks with the EU in December 2004 was celebrated by Turkey with much fanfare,[84] but the Turkish populace has become increasingly sceptical as negotiations are delayed based on what it views as lukewarm support for its accession to the EU and alleged double standards in its negotiations particularly with regard to the French and Austrian referendums. A mid-2006 Eurobarometer survey revealed that 43% of Turkish citizens view the EU positively; just 35% trust the EU, 45% support enlargement and just 29% support an EU constitution.[85] Moreover, Turks are divided on whether to join at all. A 2007 poll put Turkish support for accession to the EU at 41.9% (up from 32% in 2006), with 27.7% opposed and 24.0% indifferent.[86] A 2009 poll showed that support for accession had risen to 48%, even as negative views of the EU had risen from 28% to 32%.[87] In 2010, despite the government accelerating its quest to join the bloc, public opinion changed with
just 38 percent in favour in contrast to 73 percent in 2004. This was read in line with Turkeys increasing economic prosperity and a growing role as a regional power-broker.[88] Twenty percent of Turks also favoured closer ties with other Muslim countries instead, a doubling in just one year.
enlargement, including to Turkey.[98] Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt told the French newspaper Le Figaro that "the EU has 'a strategic interest' in Turkey's EU integration and warned against 'closing the door' to Ankara."[98] "If we judge Cyprus to be in Europe, although it is an island along Syria's shores, it is hard not to consider that Turkey is in Europe," Mr Bildt said, referring to Mr Sarkozy's repeated statements that Turkey is not a European country and does not belong to Europe.[98] In the Le Figaro interview, Mr Bildt said: "My vision of Europe is not as defensive as I observe it with other people."[98] The French president's trip to Sweden was cancelled the day after the interview was published. [98] "Nicolas Sarkozy cancelled his visit because of the Carl Bildt interview," one French minister told Le Monde.[98] "The president wanted to avoid a clash on Turkey and did not want that his visit to Sweden interferes with the elections [five days later]."[98] On 28 June 2007, Portuguese State Secretary for European Affairs Manuel Lobo Antunes affirmed that "Turkey should join the EU once it has successfully completed membership talks, which are likely to run for at least a decade."[99] "We think it is important and fundamental that Turkey joins the European Union once it fulfils all the conditions and all the criteria," he said, adding that "Portugal aims in the next six months to 'put the process on track'."[99] European Commission President Jos Manuel Barroso said that Turkey is not ready to join the EU "tomorrow nor the day after tomorrow", but its membership negotiations should continue. He also called on France and other member states to honour the decision to continue accession talks, describing it as a matter of credibility for the Union.[100] The EU Progress Report from 9 November 2005 stated that: "On 29 July 2005, Turkey signed the Additional Protocol adapting the EC Turkey Association Agreement to the accession of 10 new countries on 1 May 2004. At the same time, Turkey issued a declaration stating that signature of the Additional Protocol did not amount to recognition of the Republic of Cyprus. On 21 September, the EU adopted a counter-declaration indicating that Turkeys declaration was unilateral, did not form part of the Protocol and had no legal effect on Turkeys obligations under the Protocol. The EU declaration stressed that recognition of all Member States was a necessary component of the accession process. It also underlined the need for supporting the efforts of the Secretary General of the UN to bring about a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem which would contribute to peace, stability and harmonious relations in the region."[101] In November 2006, the European Commission members decided to suspend parts of the talks with Turkey regarding accession, as Turkish officials said that they will not open Turkish ports to traffic from Republic of Cyprus until the EU eases its embargo on Turkishcontrolled northern Cyprus.[102] In November 2009 Greek President Karolos Papoulias stated that he would not support Turkey's accession "as long as Ankara behaves as an occupying force in Cyprus."[103] In a 2010 meeting with the Austrian Foreign Minister, United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said "If we were the EU member we would be strongly in favor of Turkeys joining the alliance" and went on to say With respect to Turkey, the United States, along with many other countries in Europe, support the membership of Turkey inside the EU. I know that it is an issue that divides the European Union. We dont have a vote, but if we were a member, we would be strongly in favor of it.[104] www.wikipedia.com