FREE ESSAY ON TURKEY AND THE EUROPEAN UNION - A UNIQUE CASE IN THE PROCESS OF ENLARGEMENT

TURKEY AND THE EUROPEAN UNION - A UNIQUE CASE IN THE PROCESS OF ENLARGEMENT

The European Union, formerly known as the European Community until the Treaty of
Maastricht in 1992, has undergone massive changes since its inception. The European
Community was an institution primarily designed to achieve Franco-German reconciliation,
but has since grown to become a powerful economic and political bloc worldwide, with a
diverse range of member states and objectives. The project of the European Community
changed dramatically after the demise of the USSR, with the establishment of policy
favouring the accession of the Central and Eastern European States. Fundamentally, for
accession to the EU, this new wave of applicant states had to possess a 'European
Identity', be able to maintain a stable Democracy and market economy. At this point, it
is interesting to introduce the question of Turkey. Turkish involvement with, and desire
to join, the European Union is a long-running episode in the history of post-war Europe.
However, it was only this year that the EU attributed 'Applicant State' status to Turkey.
The issue of Turkey as possessing a 'European Identity' raises various doubts; due mainly
to Turkey's predominantly Muslim population, and it's geopolitical position. The EU
insists that various issues require resolution before Turkish accession can take place.
Such issues include Turkey's unsatisfactory human rights record, such as the treatment of
the Kurdish minority and the undemocratic penal system. The issue of Turkish accession is
thus proving to be a unique case in the process of EU enlargement. 
It is necessary, if Turkish accession to the EU is to take place, for Turkey to be seen
as possessing a 'European Identity' . Although it has never been stipulated in any of the
agreements formed between Turkey and the European Community, it is vital that the present
constituency of the EU regards this as so. It is therefore necessary to look at the
strength of Turkey's relations to Europe in recent history. The Republic of Turkey was
founded in 1923 from Turkish remnants of the Ottoman Empire, which in turn created the
only Muslim State with a secular democracy. The Ottoman Empire was a key player in the
'Concert of Europe', and in the aftermath of World War II, Turkey - albeit mainly in an
attempt to guard itself against an invasion from the USSR - became eager to anchor itself
in various European institutions. Turkey has since built a diverse network of bonds with
Europe, and regards these ties as signs of a European Identity. Turkey was included in
the post-WWII Marshall Plan, holds Association Status in the WEU, is a founder member of
the UN, holds NATO membership, and is a member of the Council of Europe. Relations
between Turkey and the EU are governed by the Ankara Agreement of 1964; which envisaged
the establishment of a Customs Union, and eventual Turkish membership of the Community.
This Agreement got off to a shaky start, but since January 1996 there has existed a
Customs Union between Turkey and the EU. However, very few citizens of the EU are aware
of such ties , so it is necessary for both Turkey and the EU Member States to educate
their respective constituencies of the extent to which such mutual ties expand if
integration of Turkey into the EU is to take place.
Another reason for the lack of faith in Turkey's Europeanness is its geography. Turkey
lies at the southeastern periphery of Europe, and is part of both the Asian and European
Continents, the major part of which lies in Asia . Its neighbour states include Greece
and Bulgaria to the West, Cyprus to the South, as well as Georgia, Armenia, Iran, Iraq
and Syria to the East. It is nonetheless situated on all major trade routes, and during
the Cold War, Turkey's geopolitical position meant that she played a great role in
countering the strategic threat from the East, which as a result strengthened her ties
with the USA, and in turn NATO. In spite of Turkey's numerous ties to Europe and the USA,
opponents to Turkish accession contend that Turkey's close proximity to other Muslim
countries is a security concern. A closer analysis of Turkey's relations with its
neighbours can deem this argument as inaccurate. At the time of the Gulf War, in
remaining a loyal ally to NATO, Turkey took part in sanctions against Iraq, which ended
up in billions of dollars of losses to the Turkish economy. Turkey's influence upon
Turkic and Islamic peoples of the former USSR has led to the establishment of common
economic aims in the former eastern bloc, such as the Black Sea Economic Co-operation
Project (BSECP) . Turkey is also a major contributor of aid to the Central Asian
Republics , and claims her involvement with these states is to provide a model of modern,
Western secular democracy and a market economy . Through her mediative role in processes
of democratisation and economic modernisation with her neighbour states, it is quite
clear that Turkey's interests lie ultimately with the security of Europe.
Although Turkey has proven her allegiance to Europe in her foreign policies, there exist
serious internal impediments to Turkish accession. It was only at the beginning of March
in 2001 that the EU entered into accession negotiations with Turkey. Before she is
allowed in, Turkey needs to bring her legislation into line with the EU 's three basic
principles - human rights, democracy and market economics. The EU is critical of Turkey's
human rights record, especially their penal system and the treatment of minorities. The
Turkish Government has recently been condemned for their crackdown on those seeking to
expose torture, beatings and other police abuses during a violent raid of Turkish prisons
on December 19th 2000. A military prisoner transfer operation took place in twenty
Turkish prisons; in which thirty prisoners and two police were killed . Turkey has
repeatedly been criticized for their use of soldiers to guard prison perimeters and
suppress prison protests, and statistics show that since 1995, Turkish soldiers have
beaten, shot or tortured to death twenty-eight prisoners . In September 2000, Journalist
Nadire Mater was made to stand trial for charges of 'insulting the military', and
although she was acquitted, those who criticise the Turkish Government still risk
imprisonment. Political prisoners demanding reform of the inhumane conditions of the
Turkish penal system are presently carrying out hunger strikes in Turkish Prisons, and
although some of such protesters have died, the Turkish Government still refuses to
publicly investigate their allegations. This refusal is clearly undemocratic, and an
obvious violation of human rights on Turkey's behalf. 
Turkey's treatment of minorities is another major issue that has attracted worldwide
concern. It is thus necessary to introduce the 'Kurdish' problem at this point.
Approximately one fifth of Turkey's 63 million people are of Kurdish ethnicity, yet they
are denied 'minority' status and language rights. It was claimed in the Government's
response to the Morillon Report of 2000 that, "There are no minorities in Turkey except
those described in the 1923 Lausanne Treaty, and in our constitution all Turkish
citizens, including minorities, have the same rights, freedoms and responsibilities ".
However, many attempts to assert political or cultural rights based on Kurdish identity
are regarded as treason and punished accordingly, due mainly to Turkey's attempt to
suppress Kurdish separatist elements such as the PKK . Reforms are - albeit very slowly -
being made, such as Foreign Minister Ismail Cem's 1999 statement that "Everyone in Turkey
should have the right to have television broadcasts in their own language ." It is felt
however, that EU membership would initiate an end to violations of human rights in
Turkey, in areas such as their undemocratic penal system and treatment of minorities. For
if Turkey were made to stand before the Court of Justice on such matters, they would
inevitably be penalised. Turkey is keen for both economic and security reasons to gain
accession to the EU, so although a change in attitudes towards human rights and
minorities is urgent, EU membership would act as a step in the right direction.
There are numerous reasons in favour of Turkish accession to the EU. It is clear from the
state of Turkey's foreign relations