Should Turkey Become a Member of the European Union?

Should Turkey Become a Member of the European Union?

  • Submitted By: sum2
  • Date Submitted: 09/26/2008 10:08 PM
  • Category: Business
  • Words: 1484
  • Page: 6
  • Views: 1

1. Introduction

1.1 Problem definition
Since centuries Turkey tries to become a part of the European Union. For a long time they remembered just an associate member. A tighter connection was declined by the EU. In 1999 Turkey was given the status of a candidate country and since then a public dispute was made offensively. The possible entry splits science, politics, and the public into two camps. Until today the question if Turkey should become a member of the EU is unanswered.

1.2 The objective of this paper
This work will focus on the benefits and the disadvantages of the possible enlargement. By balancing out the pros and cons a conclusion will be drawn to show the impact of an entry for the culture and the European economy.

2. EU-Turkey relations

2.1 The enlargement of the EU
The formal application by Turkey to join the European Community was made on April 14th in 1987. Turkey has been a European Union associate member since 1963. But the decision to consider Turkey's application was deferred until 1993 for a special reason: the European Community was in the process of becoming the European Union. Furthermore the decision in Turkish membership was even more delayed by the fall of the Soviet Union and German reunification. Finally at the Helsinki summit in December 1999 Turkey was given the status of a candidate country. The European Commission has certificated at the end of 2004 to the European Council a positive advocacies. On October 3rd in 2005 the accession negotiations with Turkey about the joining the European Union were opened, because the Copenhagen political criteria required to start the accession negotiations (these criteria were concluded in June 1993) are fulfilled. But this case is distinguishable from the previous enlargements. It is he first time that at the beginning it was pointed out, that a positive result is not assured. Furthermore it is possible that the hearing can be intercepted if the reforms in Turkey slow down or...

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