Turkey’s accession to the E.U

Introduction:

Turkey is the one of the modern Muslim country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe. Majority of population in Turkey are Muslims, so it is rising as an important Muslim country. Turkey is a democratic, secular, constitutional republic having a rich cultural heritage, and for long time it has been center for Muslim Empires. Turkey is at crossroad of Europe and Asia which increase its geostrategic importance.

Turkey is integrating with Europe by becoming part of Organizations such as the Council of Europe, NATO, OECD and OSCE. And it is also trying to become the part of European Union. To become the part of EU, willing Country needs to become first its associate member and in this regard Turkey gets associate membership of European Economic Community in 1959 and after 5 years for the mutual cooperation between EU and Turkey an agreement was signed between both stakeholders which is known as Ankara Agreement. So, Turkey was the first Muslim country who was trying to get access to EU (Morocco tried afterward), and no wonder it was at very strong position to become the permanent member of European Union. And if it becomes the part of EU the difference between Muslims and west can be reduced in a very good manner.

Application for membership:

On 14 April 1987 Turkey submit an application to become the formal and integral part of European Union. Mixed response from the European Union was given on two years later they approved the Turkish Membership but meanwhile they deferred it because of bad relations between Turkey and Greece on the Cyprus conflict which delayed the beginning of all negotiation.

On several occasions European Council approved Turkey as member but not formally, so in 2002 in Copenhagen a conference was conducted in thy set particular political criteria for Turkey, so if they will be fulfilling it European Union will be starting the negotiation with Turkey. Turkey was fulfilling the Copenhagen political criteria so, On December 16, 2004, Turkey’s bid to join the European Union was approved and formal accession negotiations were started from 3 October 2005.

Obstacles:

Turkey accession to European Union is obstacle by numerous domestic and foreign problems. The EU suspended the talks in eight out of the total of 35 policy areas. Cyprus, France, Austria and Denmark are clearly breezy about Turkish membership. Germany's governing Christian Democratic Union also thinks that Turkey should be offered a "privileged partnership" rather than full membership. But David Cameron backs Turkey to join EU and demand for Turkey’s full membership for European Union. UK and Scandinavian countries and the states which joined the EU in 2004 are broadly in favor of Turkey's candidacy.

 EU members have different kind of favors and reserves about giving membership to Turkey. For example Sweden is in great favor of giving Turkey a permanent membership of EU, according to the Swedish foreign minister, Carl Bildt (2008), "the accession of Turkey would give the EU a decisive role for stability in the eastern part of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, which is clearly in the strategic interest of Europe”. Meanwhile England is also biggest supporter of Turkey; while France opposed the Turkey’s entry to the European Union, they thought that Turkey is not fully in Europe, EU should first define the boundaries of Europe then they consider Turkey’s application because if EU will give accession to Turkey without looking at its boundaries, then many other countries which are looking for the membership will stand up for membership; as Morocco has already been rejected on geographical basis. Hence they said that Turkey has no place in Europe. Moreover in France, Austria and Germany because there are already too much Turkish immigrants in Germany and after becoming EU member people would freely roam about EU.

Conflict between Cyprus and Turkey

The major obstacle is conflict between Cyprus and Turkey, no wonder it is the only conflict which is if solved, Turkey would be given membership within a year. Because EU asked Turkey to open their sea ports and air ports for the traffic for the Cyprus-which is the member of European Union-. But the Turkey has rejected to-do so because EU is not taking any kind of step to end the Turkish Cypriot community's economic isolation. They day EU will take the step Turkey will open every kind routes of Cyprus. As we know that there are total 35 chapters on which negation has to be done due to this conflict EU has decided to suspend the talks in eight policy areas, known as chapters. It has also decided that none of the other 27 chapters can be signed off until Turkey opens its ports and airports to Cypriot ships and aircraft.

It is widely believed by the Turkish public that Cyprus conflict is only a lame excuse to delay the membership by European Union. United Nation also interferes in the Turkey-Greece conflict and asks the leaders of both -Turkish-Cypriot and the Greek-Cypriot- for the unification of the island. Despite leaders claims that there is a commitment to find a comprehensive solution, there are certain key issues on which nobody wants to compromise

European Union’s law requirements:

EU also said that Turkey is not bringing in the law as per European standards, so first they have to be improving their law standards and allow the general public to speak freely against the country and give them a freedom of speech.

Basically EU demand for removal of article 301 from their constitution because according to article 301 ( Censorship in Turkey, 13 September 2005) “a person who publicly insults the Turkish nation, the State of the Republic of Turkey, or the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, shall be punishable by imprisonment of between six months and two years" this basically kill the freedom of speech. So that’s why EU demands that this article should be null and void and that the expressions of thought and criticism on government shall not constitute as a crime.

Social and cultural difference:

This wouldn’t be the first time that a constructed Europe or European culture was used in order to support political interests. There is Social and cultural difference between EU members and Turkey because Turkey is the only Muslim country in Europe and Christians are in majority, mean while Turkey is not fully in Europe, which is the main reason why they consider Turkey as uncivilized. And it was not a long time ago when Europe was divided into ‘civilized’ and ‘‘uncivilized’’ parts during the Cold War era. That’s why European leaders are very much careful about their decision regarding enlargement of Europe. So all other states are afraid about the fact that it might harm their culture and norms, as Muslims are spreading all over the Europe. Europeanization is becoming increasingly a discriminatory concept. But this fact is very ridiculous because you cannot ban the entry of a country due the fact that they are Muslims. However by keeping this fact in your mind that they are not fully in Europe you can think off a point which is reasonable to restrict the entry of Turkey to EU.

EU’s internal concerns:

Turkey army is much stronger than some of other members of European Union. It is the second strongest army in NATO force meanwhile it is prospering more quickly than other EU members. So if it would be given membership of European Union it would one of most strongest stake holder and decision making country in the whole union so it is just like you are bringing another France and Germany. So the countries who have major influence over EU don’t wish the Turkey should be given accession to European Union especially Germany and France. Meanwhile good in Turkey are much cheaper as compare to other countries, after becoming the member of European Union Turkey will have accession to the European markets so then they will receive higher return from sale then before and their industrial production will increase and so Turkish economy will prosper a lot. And there will be huge capital inflows in Turkey due to which unemployment in Turkey will also decrease and at the end Turkey will have highest growth in history. Hence there is chance that within 5 to 10 years after accession Turkey will be the dominating power of Europe. So this fear did not allow other strong stake holders to support the Turkey for accession to European Union.

It is the responsibility of European Union to support its member country during crisis. And after accession Turkey will receive large amount of financial aid from Turkey which will increase its economy prosperity. And if Turkey will face financial crisis, Turkey could expect economic assistance from the EU, similar to what Ireland and Greece received after the 2008 financial crisis. One of the EU’s primary concerns is the economic situation of Europe today. Europe was heavily affected by the world-wide economic and financial crises as a whole. The packages that were designed to help Member States are widely regarded as temporary solution measures and the future of the Monetary Union is under discussion. In short, the EU is focused on its internal problems, rather than concentrating on other issues such as enlargement of union. Turkey accession matter is almost being put aside for the moment.

Islamization of Europe:

According to few analyst Turkey is too large and too Islamic to be a part of European Union. Islam is spreading all over the Europe that’s why all European countries in which majority is Christianity; they have a point of view that, as an Islamic country, Turkey wants a Turkish Europe, so they have fear they might lose their identity due to which they are no very serious regarding this matter. Countries like Germany, France have huge problem of immigration majority of Muslims are coming their around the world especially from Turkey, after the membership Turkish would easy go these countries and they will face a population problem. They want that Europe should be keep as Christian club.

No doubt Europe has Christian heritage, but it should not be a reason that they opposes the Turkey’s membership. No modern, religiously tolerant politician should oppose the membership of a country on the basis of religious differences. Criteria should not be biased, because if they will do so this will consider  that EU give the memberships to country by looking at their religion rather than looking at other main factors and there is huge religious discrimination in EU.

Arguments in Turkey’s favor

Turkey is the only Muslim country in the Europe which is very much eligible to become the part of European Union. It can decrease the differences between Europe and Muslim world and can be act as crossroad between Muslim world and Europe.  It will help to create an interconnection between the West and the Muslim world.

And as we Turkey is growing quickly and its young generation is well educated, so it will help European Union in controlling the increasing population problem and other modern day problems.

Turkey is moving toward modernization and after the membership the Turks will have access to European markets without having nationality of the country, which will help them in increasing their exposure and it will act like a catalyst in modernization of Turkey.

Meanwhile there is discrimination against Kurds who constitute for about 20% of Turkey’s population. This membership will end up this discrimination.

Future and Progress

Till now only 13 different areas of negotiation-they are usually called as chapters-have been completed. Turkey's EU negotiations have been outshined by apprehension about freedom of speech and democracy in Turkey as military has civil control, treatment of religious minorities such as Kurds, women's and children's rights and the most major one conflict with Cyprus. That’s why European Union is demanding for the democracy, human rights, underlining the need for deeper judicial reform.

Due to which Turkey is now working for the civil rights of Kurds. Meanwhile they are seriously working out for democracy and recently they have conducted a referendum, which gave the ruling AK Party the go-ahead to change the military-era constitution and bring it more into line with EU norms.

France's President Nicolas Sarkozy, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel both are still not in favor to give full membership to Turkey, rather they as for partnership between EU and Turkey. Basically French is the one who is personally against the Turkey because he now if Turkey will enter the Union their influence will be reduced. And German Chancellor is against the Turkey because there are already too many Muslim in the Germany, and they have fear that after membership Muslim majority will increase and hence it they have strong fear of Islamization of Germany not only Germany but of whole Europe.

The UK Foreign Office says it expects Turkey to be ready for membership "in a decade or so". The earliest date on which Turkey can be given accession to EU is somewhere in 2013. So they are trying to follow all of instructions of EU by 2013. But the EU has refused that they can give accession to Turkey by 2013 they said the earliest date is somewhere in 2021. So for the Turkey negotiations are getting longer and longer. Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister has said that they will freeze their relations with EU if Cyprus conflict will not be sort out by the July of this year.

From the half year negotiations Turkey is unable to be a part of European Union. Nobody can perfectly predict about final date of accession of Turkey to EU. Moreover up to somehow Turkey is also holds a firm reason that Turkey is not fully in Europe, it is a part Asia. Finally we can just say that this is modern era anything is possible, any event can turn around the Turkey as a permanent member of EU.

Cost Minimizing Policy for Industry

Industry is the backbone of any economy, our local industry is now-a-days suffering by high costs problem. Core reasons behind this problem are high petrol, gas and electricity prices, which are input cost for majority of industry. Due to this production costs are very higher and hence their products are very expensive as compare to international market. This not only affects their sales but also increases the price level which act as catalyst for cost-push inflation. This also discourages foreign investment especially in industrial sector because when input costs are higher not firm would like to enter in the market because it may possible that that unable to recover the costs.

So, we need to focus on cost minimizing policy of particular industry i.e. how a firm in an industry can minimize its costs and how Government can give them certain incentives to SME and MNCs so that both domestic and foreign investors can be encouraged. This can be done by doing research in every industry and by giving them a particular policy. Although it would be expensive; but it will be beneficial in long run for economy. It will not only decrease the inflation but also decrease the unemployment, so as a result overall economy will improve.

Biased Media

A quarter of the world consists of young people between the ages of 10-14 years. Of these 86 percent, live in developing countries. Pakistan currently has the largest group of young people in its history (25 million aged 15-24) and subsequent cohorts are projected to be even larger. This is experimenting now technologies and is mostly influential by the media. TV is the most accessible media form. In Pakistan, the coverage of TV is between 87-90pc. The average Pakistani youth is the most passionate consumer of entertaining TV programs. Besides, TV has become the main target for pressure groups and NGO`s concerned with human rights in the media.

Nowadays, the media has emerged as the essential player in granting priority to the issue of any origin. The ruling elite of Pakistan, like elsewhere, are also aware that information is power. Therefore, their prime objective is to keep the illiterate and unemployed youth powerless through controlling the state media as well. Their general attitude towards the media is obviously dictating and opposing. The net impact of this desire to control the right to information is that educated individuals are not instructed with development issues and contemporary debates. So our youth is less aware about current problems and crisis. More over young ladies and children are more concerned about TV dramas and shows.