What will Turkey gain by joining the EU?

Question

What will Turkey gain by joining the EU?

Answer 1

Everything...

Answer 2

It is a long story amd the EU does not grace itself with too many honours here. But things are changing and in politics there are always need needs, and Turkey has moved to a need for the EU now. The status of Turkey with regard to the EU has increasingly become a matter of major significance and considerable controversy in recent years. Turkey has been an associate member of the European Union and its predecessors since 1964 following the signing of the EEC-Turkey Association Agreement (Ankara Agreement) in 1963; the country formally applied for full membership on April 14, 1987, but 12 years passed before it was recognised as a candidate country at the Helsinki Summit in 1999. After a summit in Brussels on December 17, 2004, the European Council announced that membership negotiations with Turkey were officially opened on October 3, 2005. The screening process which began on October 20, 2005 was completed on October 18, 2006.

Turkey, classified as a developed country by the CIA,[8] with the seventh largest economy in the Council of Europe, is part of the common EU customs territory since the entering into force of the EU-Turkey Customs Union in 1996. Turkey is a member of the Council of Europe since 1949, a founding member of the OECD since 1961, a founding member of the OSCE since 1973 and an associate member of the Western European Union since 1992. Turkey is also a founding member of the G20 industrial nations (1999) which has close ties with the European Union.

There are many arguments against Turkey's accession. Many opponents argue that Turkey's current and past governments do not respect key principles expected in a liberal democracy because of discrimination against ethnic minorities[citation needed], particularly Kurds, non-Sunni Muslim religious minorities, political dissidents and critics of the 'Kemalist' nationalism, and because of the significant role of the army on the Turkish political foreground. The EU has expressed concerns about the rise of nationalism in Turkey and its adverse effect on the accession process. Its large population would also alter the balance of power in the representative European institutions. Some oppose the accession of a large Muslim country. Also, only a small fraction of Turkish territory lies in the common geographical definition of Europe, but this is where the country's largest city and its economic and cultural capital, Istanbul, is located. EU member Cyprus is actually located to the south of Anatolia and is geographically a part of Anatolia's continental shelf.

Another concern is that Turkey continues to occupy the northern third of the island of Cyprus, an EU member, with 40,000 Turkish troops stationed on the island, and refuses to recognise the Republic of Cyprus until a solution is found to the Cyprus dispute under the auspices of the United Nations. Historically though, the UN Security Council, in its Resolution 541 of 18 November 1983, has declared the occupation of northern Cyprus legally invalid and called for the withdrawal of Turkish forces.[9] The UN-backed Annan Plan for Cyprus was actively supported by the EU and Turkey. However, the Annan Plan was accepted by the Turkish Cypriot community and rejected by the Greek Cypriots in separate referenda in April 2004.

Arguments in favour of Turkey joining include the belief that this would bolster democratic institutions in Turkey, strengthen the EU's economy with the addition of an OECD and G-20 member to the bloc, and strengthen the EU's military with the addition of the second largest armed force of NATO. Proponents also argue that it abides by most conditions for accession. Some maintain 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 try to satisfy the entry conditions.

Arguments against Turkey joining are continued political crises (1960, 1971, 1980, 1997). A stabilized democracy is crucial for accession into the European Union. Related to this is the military's significant involvement in civil society.

But hey - the BIG prize is if we can really work and live in an EU where 20% are moslem, and stay at peace with each other, won't we have cracked the major issue of our century, a hit the Osama's of this world right  where it hurts most?

Answer 3

With EU backing, there will be an increase in the movement of goods, people, energy and capital between Israel and Arab countries.  More investments will flow into Turkey from other regions as well.  

Mobility & Financial Aid - Citizens will have the free reign and opportunity to find "greener pastures" in other EU countries, if they aren't happy in Turkey.

Bargaining Power (Incentives from the US)-  EU membership will enable the US to manipulate the EU in the Middle East through Turkey. Some individuals even likened Turkey to a 'Trojan horse'. Turkey would not sucumb to it as seen when they denied access to the American military before the Iraq War and adhered to the EU's policies, but the US can always try and try can't they?  

More Say Through Seats- If in the EU, Turkey's almost 70 million inhabitants would bestow it the second largest number of MEPs in the European Parliament. Demographic projections indicate Turkey would surpass Germany in the number of seats by 2020. (That is why they are scared of Turkey joining the EU.) ^_^

Answer 4

Power.

After accepting Turkey as its member, EU will have the biggest armed forces in the world. Even bigger than USA....

My question is to my European friends:

I know that you guys (especially French) have doubts about all the possible labor force that might pour from Turkey but

Don't you think Turkey is a key player for EU to become the new superpower?

So which one you prefer:

A weaker EU without Turkey?

or Superpower EU with Turkey?

Answer 5

E.U. is an economic organization.

Turkey will be able to buy European goods more cheaply (no tariffs or barriers) and vice versa. Should increase trade and investment from both sides. Meaning, Turkey will become richer, by how much, who knows.

Answer 6

I am not interested in Turkey joining the EU.

They are not European and will never be.

I rather have a smaller EU, but a European one, one which feels like home than an alienated one.