Not only Turkey, but Entire World Watches EU

After September 11th, the issue of the European integration of Turkey set the agenda of many international meetings that had no connection with the country. The world media emphasize this issue almost daily. Therefore, not only in Turkey, but around the world the eyes will be on Brussels.

The importance of the issue is unquestionable in terms of the old continent, which has played a leading role – good or bad – for the last 4-5 centuries of humanity. There was the Renaissance, the reform, geographic exploration, the Enlightenment, revolutions, colonialism, and the world wars. After going through a fascinating renewal in the past 50 years, perhaps Europe is once again ready to step into the global arena by virtue of the Turkey issue.

The European Union (EU), which has been the scene of large debates because of the Turkey issue, could achieve the target it set for itself when it first came to life as the European Coal and Steel Community after the Second World War. That target could be defined as a utopia. If two world wars, which resulted in the destruction of millions and caused great damage the world over, are considered as the denominator of the rivalry of nationalities, the importance of European idealism becomes very clear.

The European dream all and all was a utopian project as a supranational structure began appearing in Europe, the very place from where ideas of the nation-state, which still influence the international system, had emerged for the first time. Getting the most prominent states of Europe, France and Germany, together under one roof after they had brushed boots three times in 70 years was a utopia. Now the relations have blossomed to such a point that the French and German heads of state represent each other at international meetings and the governments of these two states hold joint meetings.

The implementation of a unique currency (Euro) that required states to cede their authority to mint coins and print money, one of the most significant symbols of national sovereignty, was one of the most utopian projects of the EU in the passing years.

The last great EU project was the unification of a Europe that had been divided by the Cold War by embracing the former Eastern bloc countries. The EU has so far been successful in this goal, and it has also had an influence in shading the membership process of Turkey. This process will be completed with the accession of Bulgaria, Romania, and other Balkan states.

In truth, the Turkish issue is not so different from the other goals of the EU. Rowing the same boat with a Muslim country, on the basis of universal values, was a huge project that required an intellectual and economic arrangement. However, Europe had never really analyzed the issue before September 11 and the Iraqi War. During the Cold War, the majority regarded Turkey like a child hanging on the back of the European carriage. Accordingly, the EU has always looked for ways of kicking the ball into touch when it came to the issue of Turkey.

In 1987, after the EU had accepted Turkey’s preliminary membership application, the EU told Turkey that it would have to wait before the Union made a decision on the country’s preparedness for full membership. Turkey’s application for full membership was accepted in Helsinki two years later, yet the status of "candidate state" was not even bestowed upon the country until the Luxembourg summit in 1997. However, when the legal framework of the expanded Union was being discussed at the Nice Summit, Turkey was the only candidate country left out. When asked the reason, the EU said that accession talks were necessary because candidacy did not guarantee membership. Indeed, Turkey was the only candidate that did not begin accession talks.

Rumors circulating in Brussels, which is stuck between a public not ready for Turkey’s membership and past promises, are that the EU is searching for new ways to kick the ball out of play. Now Brussels is pondering not guaranteeing the accession talks of membership, the possibility of stopping the negotiations at any moment, and permanently preventing the "free movement of individuals", a concept that makes up the backbone of the Union. If any of these scenarios come to fruition, the EU, which has achieved great success in its short history, would fail its Turkish final exam. Not only Turkey, but the whole world -East, West, Muslim and Arab- would take note of such a development.