Germany's olive branch to Turkey for EU membership

12 June 2009, 18:00 PM

Barrister Harun ur Rashid

John Thys/afp

THE European Union of 27 nation-states has been delaying Turkey's entry into the Union by demanding hosts of unwarranted reforms. Many EU member countries do not want Turkey, a Muslim country with more than 70 million inhabitants, into the exclusive Christian Club and that is why a delaying strategy has been adopted. France's conservative President Nicholas Sarkozy, son of a Hungarian immigrant, came out in 2007 with a statement that Turkey's geography did not make it eligible for membership into European Union. It is true Turkey is in Asia and a tiny part of the country lies in Europe. Its capital city Ankara is in Asia and is not in Europe. But at the same time Greek-Cyprus, part of the Island, which is located 80 kilometer south of Turkey, could become member of the EU. It demonstrates that geographical position does not matter so long the country has a Christian-majority people. For Turkey, it seems geographical position is an excuse for some of the EU members to deny Turkey's entry. The European Union's action is risking a backlash in Turkey. One survey revealed Turkish approval of Europe to be falling rapidly. Just 27% of Turks reportedly has a favourable opinion of the European Union, compared to 58% per cent in 2004. The ongoing frustration in Turkey over its on and off membership negotiations with the European Union are vividly reflected in these data. European member states opened accession negotiations with Turkey during the last week of June 2007 on two new policy areas: statistics and financial control. But after French objections, talks were postponed on a third important topic - economic and monetary policy. To join as a member of the European Union, a country needs to discuss nearly 33 policy areas. Germany was not favourable to Turkish entry to the EU. Chancellor Angela Merkel of the Christian Democratic Party talked about a "privileged partnership" for Turkey. It meant that Turkey would be granted substantial benefits but barred from membership, thus denying Turkey the right to vote on EU matters. Why would Turkey accept such "second-grade" position? However, Chancellor Angela Merkel, as a political necessity, has reportedly abandoned the stance because she wants to reach out to Germany's approximately 690,000 Turkish voters. The EU parliamentary election was held on 4th June in the EU member states. For Chancellor Merkel, the results of the parliamentary election for EU may act as a barometer for Germany's general elections in September this year. The Chancellor realises that her party needs as many votes as possible for her re-election. She and her party have refrained from making adverse comments on Turkey's entry into the EU or EU's enlargement or any other major issue. "The time is over for a Christian Democratic Party in Germany to adopt an anti-Turkey campaign," said Gerhard Hirscher, an analyst at the Hanns Seidel Foundation. He reportedly added: "The foreign policy experts in the party have made it clear they do not support the idea of using the European Parliament elections to campaign against Turkey's joining the EU. Turkey is an important country and more importantly, every vote matters in September." The softening stance of Germany differs from that of several European countries (France, the Netherlands and Austria). According to the first poll conducted among Germany's Turks, more than 55% per cent of Turkish voters would opt now for Social Democrats if general election is held in Germany, with 23% per cent for the Green Party and only 10% per cent for the Chancellor's party. The majority of Turkish voters support these two parties because they support integration policies for Turks in the country. Some say that many Turkish people are fed up with the delaying tactics of some members of the EU and want to show their separate identity by becoming anti-West. After all Turkey is a proud nation with a great history. Between 1526 and 1566, Turkey's Ottoman Empire conquered many eastern European countries and knocked the door of Vienna. Another important fact to note is that Turkey has been one of the first stops on the US President Obama's first European trip in April this year. Such a visit to Turkey is made within the context of a "European" as opposed to a "Middle Eastern" trip to demonstrate that the United States considers Turkish membership in the EU and stronger ties to the West to be an important strategic objective. He specifically supported Turkey's efforts to join the EU. President Obama did not visit Greece and it is interesting to note that he equated in his speech President Demetrios Christofias, the internationally recognized President of the Republic of Cyprus (Greek-dominated Cyprus), with that of the leader of the Turkish Cypriot President, Mehmet Ali Talat, (only Turkey recognizes him as the President) as being the "two Cypriot leaders." President Obama spoke before the Turkish parliament and referred to Turkey as being a "…resolute ally and a responsible partner in transatlantic and European institutions". Turkey is strategically located between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea and controls the gateway between the two seas. While Turkey is a valued member of NATO, there is no valid reason why Turkey should not be a member of the EU. Turkish membership would strengthen the EU and would fill in the gap between the Muslim and Christian worlds which is imperative for global peace and harmony at this juncture of time. Reality and pragmatism and not prejudice should guide the entry-policy of the EU towards Turkey. The author is former Bangladesh Ambassador to the UN, Geneva.