Transit Country for Energy Supplies - Essay Example

Introduction The country has played a crucial role as a key transit country for energy supplies, and its membership into European Union will honor the forum. The membership will provide the European Union with an opportunity to develop linkages with the Central Asian countries, and this will further provide an easy access to the European Union towards the enormous wealth of resources in Central Asia and regions of Siberia. On contrary, the enlargement of the European Union will turn it into 'a club of mainly small countries, which have the prospect of widening wealth-gap between rich and poor regions'. The enlargement of the Union will make it liable to contribute towards their regional funds at immediate notice, and will therefore fail to deliver the economic concerns of the previous members. Advantages: Detailed Discussion According to political analysts the accession of the Turkey with the European Union is expected to provide both with 'considerable opportunities and challenges' (Flam, 2003), beside serious challenges. The accession of the Turkey into European Union will clear certain reservations and misconceptions which alleged that European Union is a Christian Club, the accession will further reflect the fact that European Union is visionary of 'inclusive and tolerant society', and will exemplify that European Union is diversified association, which is 'bound together by common values of liberty, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights' (Oguz, 2003). It is believed that the accession will validate the European Union's firm commitment and support towards the development of a multiethnic, multicultural and multi-faith Europe, and is likely to defy the concept of 'clash of civilizations', and will nullify the social concerns towards the outspread of terrorism, through amalgamation with Muslim society. The critics have regarded the accession as an opportunity for the European Union to support Turkey i.e. secular Muslim country, such accession is expected to demoralize 'the exclusive, sectarian and closed society propagated by radical Islamists'. The accession is considered as an opportunity for the European Union to influence and contribute in the future relations between the Islamic community and the western countries. The European Union is expected to secure 'respect and credibility' (Oguz, 2003), and will be able to nurture its soft image by supporting the accession of Turkey, some critics have requested the expedition of the admission process so as to discourage the rising popularity and emergence of the hard-line Islamists forces. Turkey's accession to the European Union will offer revised approach towards Islam which is compatible to the democratic values. It is believed that the accession of the Turkey with the European Union will develop an understanding that contributes towards the resolution of the concerns associated with the integration of religious beliefs and traditions with the universal principles of the modern societies. The role of the European Union is expected to get further strong and influential, and its emergence as the foreign policy actor, will impact the world politics considerably after the accession of the Turkey. The newly adopted security strategies by the European Union i.e. A Secure Europe in a Better World and the Wider Europe: Neighborhood under the proposal forwarded by the European Commission and the European Parliament has encouraged the European Union to give due consideration and significance to the Southern periphery for strengthening European security. It has been reported that the geo-strategic position of Turkey will broaden the scope of activities and influence in regions of vital interests to the international community i.e. the Middle East, the Mediterranean, Central Asia and South Caucasus. Turkey has forged good understanding with the Israel, Arab countries and the United States, Turkey is quoted as the credible and major negotiator who has contributed immensely for bridging the differences between the Israel and Palestinians. It is therefore expected that the accession of the Turkey into European Union will further broaden the limited involvement and the influence of the European Union into the issue, 'there are good arguments for a more effective and assertive European role, without intention to challenge the leadership of the United States of America in this complex issue'. The accession will offer similar opportunities to the European Union in the Black Sea basin, South Caucasus and Central Asia, where to date the European Union has failed to contribute at large scale, and its involvement has been extremely limited, on contrary Turkey has played dominant role in such regions due to the cultural, religious and linguistics affiliations. According to the reports, the involvement of the Turkey in the Barcelona Process, will expectedly provide 'much needed impetus to thus far disappointing cooperation in the Mediterranean' to the European Union. It is also expected that the membership of the Turkey will provide the European Union with an opportunity to intensify and enhance its role and activities on the South, 'adding to the "Northern Dimension" initiated by Finland a new and powerful "Southern Dimension". The significant location of the Turkey in the centre of the Eurasian region is expected to benefit European action in the region, the European Security and Defense Policy will get further strong due to the 'Turkey's considerable military capabilities and the country's potential as a forward base would be important and much-needed assets. Turkey has provided large number of forces towards international peacekeeping operations; the country has already provided its forces in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia and Afghanistan. Turkey is also the signatory of the deal reached in 2002 on EU-NATO relations, and supported and provided the required assistance towards military crisis management, such policy encouraged the implementation of the Berlin Plus agenda . It is believed that the Turkey's membership will foster and develop understanding in Justice and Home Affairs, and together the European Union and Turkey will be able to combat 'international terrorism, organized crime, trade in human beings and illegal migration' (ICT, 2003), the European Union will then able to over come the threats to its security and stability. The economists are of the opinion that Turkey's economy has great potential to flourish and expand, and it is premature to make conclusions about the Turkey's economic conditions through the evaluation of its current economic status, 'even if the Turkish economy will continue to suffer deficiencies and imbalances for some time to come, it has great potential' (Field, 2002). The economic potential of the country is not be evaluated on its present economic deficiencies, rather it is believed that the country has significant resources, and is blessed with 'young, well-trained and highly qualified work force'. The purchasing power of the country is expected to rise, as its population has reached the total of seventy million, Turkey can be considered as suitable market for goods from other members of European members, and similarly other European members can recruit and hire the services of the Turkish labor to reduce the shortage of trained employees. It is important for the European Union to evaluate the accession of the Turkey into the forum on the basis of its strategic location, the country role and contribution can be highlighted from the fact that it has been an active player in the construction of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline for the transportation of the oil and natural gas from Caspian basin, which is considered to have largest mineral reserves. Previously the economy of the country was 'plagued by macroeconomic instability and structural deficiencies' (Chislett, 2004), but since 2001 onwards the economy of the country has undergone transformation, and has improved swiftly. The country is liable to abide by the instructions and proposals of the International Monetary Fund and the European Union for the continuity of the reform process. The location, size, the talented young population is likely to further support the Turkey's ongoing economic reforms, therefore 'Turkey's economic potential is undeniable' (Conference, 2003). The European Union is expected to gain more in terms of it's widen influence into the regional and international foreign affairs, than the economic benefits. Disadvantages: Detailed Discussion The accession of the Turkey into European Union will introduce 'Union's heterogeneity as a member', irrespective of its size and special characteristics. Turkey is of the opinion that its accession formalities and negotiations should be held at a quicker pace; else it will have direct impact on the credibility of the European Union. Turkey is also bound to adhere by the political criteria envisaged by the European Union, Turkey 'must accept that fulfillment of the political criteria includes the implementation of all legislation passed by parliament'. It is expected that the accession will not bring abrupt changes in the performance and the operations of European Union, and it is unlikely that the membership will disrupt or improve the functioning of European Union institutions, but the membership of the Turkey is expected to 'accentuate existing divergences on the future of the integration process, but it would not cause a qualitative shift in the performance of the organization'. It is important to recall that the authority within the European Union is based on the alliances and the formation and the coordination among the alliances keeps transforming, therefore the authority within the Union is based on the economic wellbeing of the member country, and the demographic weight. In the case of Turkey, it can be expected that is will not be able to play a dominant role in the European Union, mainly because its economy is in jeopardy, and secondly it has never been able to forge alliances with the European countries, the country is considered to have strong diplomatic relations with the United States (Evin, 2003). The enlargement of the European Union is expected to provide the Union with important and credible costs of enlargement that includes 'the cost for public finances, the cost of labor market disruption and the cost of wage competition'. The costs toward enlargement is primarily based on the political factors instead of the economic concerns, the support and the coordination of the member countries towards the expected and new members is of major concern. The Union is already placed several controls before the accession gets materialized, and such controls are based on regional aid, 'CAP funding the limitations on the free movement of labor within the EU' (Mario, 2003), which incorporates 'the budgetary costs for the EU', the budgetary cost bear by the member countries is expected to increase during the expansion phase, although the Union has taken measures to restrict the 'the fiscal costs to the member countries from enlargement'. The new member countries are expected to receive farm subsidies, the Union is expected to increase it 'by 1% per year until 2013 to offset inflation'. The new entrants will be provided an assistance of more than 25 billion euros for the structural reforms in the initial three years. The Union has introduced reforms which are expected to ensure that the new members do not contribute more towards the Union budget. The member countries including Spain, Greece and Portugal are expected to suffer due to the accession of Turkey. It was reported that Spain has been struggling hard to provide EU subsidies to its poorer regions, which were previously expected to receive 'two-thirds of all available structural and cohesion funds'. The Union budget will be required to increase manifold once the accession of the new members materialized, the increase in the fund will be utilized towards the economic and social concerns of the poverty stricken countries, which will disrupt the economic rise of the European Union. It is expected that the accession of the Turkey beside other new expected candidates into the European countries will be responsible for the rising unemployment among the member countries, which will eventually result in the massive immigration of the labor into rich and stable countries, and will evolve political and social tensions. It has been reported that the rate of unemployment in the new member countries is above the average level of other European Union members. The analysts have warned that it is not necessary that the 'unemployment will fall following integration with the Union'. The member countries will be liable to bear the increasing economic and social costs as a result of unemployment, and the new members will be under intense fiscal constrains i.e. budget deficits. It is also feared that the enlargement of the Union will result in the rise of the 'economic migration from East to West' (Mario, 2003). The accession of the countries in the eastern side having borders with Russia, Belarus and the Ukraine has resulted in the increasing criminal activities and illegal immigration. According to report, 'In Germany, Austria and Italy , the countries that share borders with the accession countries are involved in political debates, the purpose of the exercise is to monitor and control the flow of migrants from former Eastern Europe'. The analysts have expressed their serious concerns towards the membership of Turkey, due to its religious affiliation towards Islam. Austria has staunchly opposed the accession of the Turkey into European Union, Austria experienced the Islamists forces in 1683 and the worst memory still prevails. The membership also requires heavy transference of the funds for supporting the infrastructure, agriculture and administration of the country, from the union level. The accession will expand the geographical domain the Union up to Iraq, Iran and Syria, and the previous records suggest that the country has failed to prevent infiltration from these borders. Such implications have jeopardized the membership progress, and have often placed the accession talks into stalemate (Chislett, 2004). Conclusion It is expected that the membership of the country will make the Union liable to offer economic aids, and the country is likely to take many years to stand back on its foot. Although analysts have also feared that the membership of the Muslim state should not be encouraged, in view with the feelings of the citizens of the member countries. The public have feared that the accession should not be materialized because it has emerged as a fundamentalist Muslim state, 'Turkey's different religious and cultural traditions and perceptions have alarmed the European population' (Conference, 2003). However, Turkey has also contributed and invested efforts for the restructuring of the European Security and Defense Policy, and improvement of its efficiency. It is therefore believed the Turkey's affiliation with NATO, and its support towards the revamping of European Security Policy, has regarded Turkey as great asset for the European Union. Therefore the accession of the Turkey into European Union has to be handled with diligence and care, and the Union should be careful not to come up with an offensive approach, which is expected to damage the credibility of the Union. References 1. Chislett, William. Turkey's membership of the European Union: A rose or a thorn Elcano Royal Institute. May 2004 2. Demiralp, Oguz. The added value of Turkish membership to European Foreign Policy. Turkish Policy Quarterly. Volume 2, No. 4. 2003 3. Nathalie, Evin. Towards accession negotiations: Turkey's domestic and foreign policy challenges ahead. European University Institute. October, 2003 4. Flam, Harry. Turkey and the EU: Politics and economics of accession. Institute for International Economic Studies, Stockholm University. February 2003 5. Report of the Independent Commission on Turkey. Turkey in Europe: More than a promise September 2004 6. Heather Field. EU Enlargement, Popular Culture and Cultural Policy: Transition and Change. Focus. February, 2002 7. Record of the High-Level Round Table Conference. Turkey and the EU. Amsterdam, the Netherlands. November, 2003 8. Zucconi, Mario. Turkey's New Politics and the European Union. Ethno-barometer Working Paper. April 2003 Read More