News & Politics - French Blow to Turkey's EU Hopes

The Happy Psycho · 09-27-2004, 10:17 PM

I found this interesting.

From BBC
From CNN

Quote:

CNN -

PARIS, France (Reuters) -- Turkey will not join the European Union for at least 15 years and could only do so once France had held a referendum on the issue, French Finance Minister Nicolas Sarkozy said on Sunday.

"The membership of Turkey, in the best of cases, will not happen for 15 years," he told LCI television. "A decision as important as the membership of Turkey in Europe could only be taken after there had been a referendum in France."

Sarkozy, who plans to quit the Finance Ministry in November to lead France's ruling conservative party, said he had reservations about Turkey joining the 25-member bloc.

He was sceptical about the idea "not because it is a Muslim country but because Turkey alone represents the membership of the 10 countries (mainly) from eastern Europe," he said, referring to the countries that joined the bloc this year.

Sarkozy made his comments after French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin voiced misgivings on Thursday about Turkey joining the bloc, asking if Europe really wanted "the river of Islam to enter the riverbed of secularism."

Raffarin said Turkey had made progress in adjusting its laws and institutions to EU standards under Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, but queried the overwhelmingly Muslim but secular state's ability to stay the course.

Turkey cleared a hurdle on its path towards EU membership on Sunday when its parliament approved a new penal code which will boost women's rights and punish police more severely for torture.

The European Commission is due to present an assessment on Oct. 6 of whether Turkey has met the political and economic criteria which would enable it to start negotiations.

I admit I'm a little hazy on EU rules and regulations, so please clue me in. A European country can be denied entry simply because a current member doesn't want them?

meretwins · 09-28-2004, 12:50 AM

is turkey considered a european nation or a middle eastern one?

*Ledi* · 09-28-2004, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by meretwins
is turkey considered a european nation or a middle eastern one?

middle east one. they're not part of europe. they're part of asia.

JW77 · 09-28-2004, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by *Ledi*
middle east one. they're not part of europe. they're part of asia.

Part of Turkey is geographically located in Europe though. That has to count for something.

The Happy Psycho · 09-28-2004, 01:39 AM

Yeah, I'm assuming thats why they can apply for EU membership.

I think it was the BBC article that said one of the main reasons France wanted to delay Turkey's entrance was because before long Turkey would have a large enough population to have more EU votes than any of the other members. I'm curious, why is that such a big deal?

**Avatar** · 09-28-2004, 08:04 AM

See, this is why Liberals dislike the French government - because of them trying to force their ways upon the rest of the world (not unlike the US). Just because France is strictly secular, doesn't mean everyone else has to be. Turkey joining demands a referendum, huh? I suggest another referendum - for France to be thrown out due to excessive intolerance.

And yeah, Turkey, like Russia, is located both in Europe and Asia (the strait of Bosporos seperates Europe from Asia), and they've always been counted amongst the European states.

Anabela · 09-28-2004, 08:27 AM

From what I've read, Turkey can't join the EU yet because they have laws against adultery and other laws that derive from Islamism. Those laws can be very common in Islamic ountries, but the EU is based on the separation of state and church. A country with such laws will never be accepted in the EU not only because France is against: most EU countries don't want a member with laws like that.
I do know that the Turkish government is changing those laws (I think the death penalty was already abolished or is going to be abolished soon). In the future, I think Turkey will be able to join the EU.

Maybe someone from Turkey can explain this better.

*Ledi* · 09-28-2004, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by JW77
Part of Turkey is geographically located in Europe though. That has to count for something.

Sort of, but in Europe no one really considers them an European country. At least most of the people don't anyway. And if you check the atlas of Europe.. you won't see Turkey in there...

JW77 · 09-28-2004, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by *Ledi*
Sort of, but in Europe no one really considers them an European country. At least most of the people don't anyway. And if you check the atlas of Europe.. you won't see Turkey in there...

Still...that doesn't change the fact that part of Turkey is located in Europe.


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