Turkey and the European Union - Essay Example

?Insert Insert Grade Insert Insert Turkey and the European Union Turkey is one of the first nations to become a member of the European council. It signed the custom union agreement in 1995 and became a full member in 1999. After 2 years, the European Union commission commenced a positive agenda to look into EU-Turkey interests. In 2007, Turkey declared that it was willing to comply with all European Union regulations by 2013. This compliance alignment is yet to be attained fully since full accreditation into the union, which will be completed by the year 2021 (Zu?rcher 4). The country’s inclusion in the EU has been subject to debate both at political level of the organization’s membership as well as in the public. As a prerequisite for joining the union, a country should satisfy a basic condition of being able to prove that it is democratically stable and able to address the issues of humanitarian and international concerns. However, the public and media circles have been full of accusations labeled against turkey mostly because it is a predominantly Muslim nation. Most of the European Union nations have argued that the country is of an incompatible value system having been through a different timeline in its historical and religious history. As a result, the arguments against the nation’s membership to the EU have been based on a religious cum cultural compatibility with other states in the union. In other words, by being a country that has faced a lot of historical influence through Islamic dominance in its political and social structure, the opposing voices for the country’s inclusion in the EU state that this has worked against the country. The attachment of Islamic faith with terrorism has also been a factor in the determination of the country’s EU status at least according to some public observers. The fear of Islam among other faiths in the region has been high in the aftermath of terror attacks in major European cities; all connected to individuals or groups of Islamic background. It then follows that most people have wanted to associate the integration of the country into the union to increased terrorism in the region. Apart from the country’s religious heritage, its size has been a factor with many arguing that the country population which nears that of Germany; may be a hindrance to the region’s economic development. Other issues raised have attachment to the country’s poverty index, largely rural population and conflict prone boarders. Turkey has myriad of problems just like other European Union countries. Some of the problems are a result of the coup attempt in Cyprus. Muftuler and Guney (282) indicate some of the reasons why this conflict has a bearing on the determination of Turkey as a member of the EU. The origin of this conflict starts with the long followed conflict in Cyprus, which stems from the Greek and Turkish Cypriots living in the country. The country has been in the middle of the conflict due to its push to defend their counterparts who are settled in Cyprus. One factor that complicates this matter is that Greece is already a member of the EU yet it has been conflicting with the country concerning Cyprus. Turkey’s involvement in the conflict was as a result of the marginalization of the Turkish Cypriots even after the United Kingdom, Greece and the country signed a treaty of guarantee to Cyprus. This issue also highlights the problem of immigration. Migration has historically been attached to the enhancement of multiculturalism in regions such as Europe. However, Huysmans (752) highlights that a social realignment of this issue has resulted in ‘securitization of migration.’ Simply put, migration has been attached mostly to security issues rather than on the potential of interactions of the immigrants that can result into economic and social development. Most western nations have always majored on security and used this as a reason for restricting movement against the foundations of freedoms of association and movement. Therefore, there is need for this misconception to be eliminated from the principles of the EU for diversity that is intended to be achieved. This will be achieved through formulation of policy instruments to eliminate the over emphasis on security issues for immigrants. There should be proper channels to be followed in the verification of individual’s status, which can be easily achieved through cooperation of countries through a disclosure rather than subjecting people to stringent requirements. Through the harmonization of immigration laws and solving of international conflicts, this issue may be outdated for the union. Apart from being in the middle of a regional conflict and immigration issues, the country’s economic outlook has also been a major undoing for its membership ambitions in the EU. For instance, the unemployment rate is very high especially among the youth. In addition, the government has a deficit in financing its health sector. These problems have complicated Turkey’s application process to become a member of the European Union, since it has not met the requirements. As a result, there have been recommendations to the effect that the government of Turkey should borrow funds so that it can commence projects that would help reduce these problems (Arvanitopoulos 29). Despite the problems of Turkey, it is important to look at the positives the country’s admission to the union would bring. One of the obvious benefits will be that this would do much in helping to change the conception of Muslim fear, create better relations, and spread harmonization. Any union would like to rely on a highly harmonious relationship among its members. By accepting Turkish membership into the EU, the region is likely to be highlighted as an inclusive environment that is not discriminative of the people’s cultural and religious heritage. It is however important to look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of the country joining the union as shall be outlined in the following section. Advantages of joining European Union There will be economic and currency stability since the country will be a trading partner of the European nations. By gaining access to trade privileges, the country’s currency is likely to appreciate. Currency appreciation is important for reduction of balance of trade among its trading partners in the region. There will be improved security around the borders since there will be more European Union security agents deployed (Smith 25). This will even likely eliminate the problem that has always been largely perceived as a Turkish one. By bringing the responsibility at region level, the country will be able to benefit from the cooperation of members to help solve this crisis. There will also be a reduction of trade barriers and tariffs against the country. This will enable the country to do business with the leading European nations. As a result, the problem of uplifting the standards of households in the country will be eliminated. Even though the country has historically imposed high tariffs for protection of home industries and farmers, it has in the recent past; softened this stand by enhancing economic liberation. Its admission will therefore ensure that it attains the benefits of such efforts. There will be increased political stability and coexistence among the neighboring states; since the laws of the European Union will regulate the country. For instance, the conflict with Cyprus is likely to be solved amicably when they are all members. The country has also done enough to ensure this objective is attained through changes in its laws and political environment in accordance with EU requirements. Disadvantages Trade barriers with some nations not accepted by European Union. The union usually creates sanctions against those nations that do not comply with some of its norm. However, the country’s liberalization efforts will be helpful for eliminating this challenge. Strict regulations for new members will jeopardize its growth. The union will have to be tighten restrictions on the nation in order to ensure it abides to all the rules and regulations of the union.  It is very expensive for a country like turkey to abide by all the regulations of the European Union. This will have negative impacts in the short run but situations will improve at the long run. The entrance of Turkey into the European Union will be very imperative to the entire union and beyond. Turkey is a small nation and its entrance will give other states a positive impression towards the unions. The entrance of Turkey into the European Union will eliminate the suspicion of the European Union nations marginalizing the developing nations. The security of Turkey and its neighboring nations will be enhanced since they will be under the same rules. The rules of European Union advocate for peaceful coexistence amongst all the member states. This will address most of the problem caused by Cyprus to come to an end. Turkey is strategically positioned and will create more opportunities among most nations doing trade with it (Joseph 15). The fear of this nation as a Muslim state should not be a hindrance for its inclusion in the union because most European nations already have large Muslim populations in them. There are observations to the effect that the country has been largely an ethnic state rather than a religious one. By accepting this country, the union shall be viewed as diversity oriented organization rather than a conglomeration against some cultures or religious groupings. By being a member, the country will also provide valuable input for combating terror and other conflict issues that have been experienced in Europe and globally. Conclusion The controversy behind Turkey’s inclusion in the European Union seems to largely revolve around social issues rather than issues of legal and principle legitimacy. It is however, notable that the country will likely to benefit the union and that is why its membership should be approved. As stated earlier in the paper, the concerns about the country’s incompatibility may be factually right but morally unfounded. As a matter of fact, by including a country whose multiculturalism will add to the union’s already diverse humanity will be more of a blessing to the image of the EU. The organization’s ambitions to become an economic powerhouse in the world will only be achieved through stability among nations and Turkey’s inclusion may be just what is needed to solve the instability problem in parts of the region. In addition, Turkish large population may not only be a great challenge to the union but also a blessing. Since there is evidence that points towards economic development as a result of a large population in countries like China, it is therefore true to state that the country’s population would do good for the union in the long run. It is important to appreciate that the country’s economical constraints may be a major challenge for now, however, the transformation the country has undergone in the recent past on its political and legal fronts may act as good foundations for its economic liberation. Finally, it is within the interests of the Union’s members to promote peace, harmony and prosperity and not to spread social falsifications. Works Cited Arvanitopoulos, Konstantinos. Turkey's accession to the European Union an unusual candidacy. Berlin: Springer, 2009. Print Huysmans, Jef. The European Union and the Securitization of Migration. Journal of Common Market Studies, 38, (5), (2000) pp. 751–77. Joseph, Joseph. Turkey and the European Union: internal dynamics and external challenges. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2006. Print Muftuler, Meltem and Guney, Aylin. The European Union and the Cyprus Problem 1961–2003. Middle Eastern Studies, 41, (2), 2005, pp. 281-293.  Smith, Norris. The European Union. Bronx, NY: H.W. Wilson Co., 2005. Print  Zu?rcher, Ej. The European Union, Turkey and Islam. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, 2004. Print Read More