Europe would gain from Turkey’s EU membership

Speaking on Sunday, the German Chancellor said that his country has backed Turkey’s bid for membership of the EU for four decades, adding that discussion over Turkey joining the bloc should not focus on xenophobia but on the issues.
Slamming the German opposition for what he described as conducting an ugly and racist campaign against Turkey’s joining the EU, Schröder said that Turkey had much to offer.
“Turkey’s combining democratic values with the Islam faith will be great opportunity,” Schröder said. “There are many reasons for supporting the giving of such a perspective to Turkey and to oppose the approach of the opposition.”