Times: Turkey to Change EU’s Future

British newspaper the Times recorded that the agreement reached yesterday meant Turkey’s return to the continent it has stood apart from for 500 years. The newspaper wrote that Turkey was the best example for modern Islam and its accession to the EU would be an indication of the respect of the EU for global values and differences. Also the Daily Telegraph in its head article used the headline "EU offer to Turkey ‘a triumph for tolerance and world peace’". The Independent said that "Not disappointing Turkey is also the best interest of Europe", and that "Turkey maybe has not yet determined its place in the EU, but it has taken an important step in that way. In the Financial Times it was reported that "the historical decision" will change the EU and a transform Turkey, too.

The French newspaper Le Figaro led with "Europe’s first concessions to Turkey" headline saying that Turkey managed to gain more flexible provisions that it expected." Liberation said "Turkey is on the way to membership", and focused on the issue of recognition of the Greek Cypriot state.

The German press interpreted the decision as a victory for Erdogan. Bild newspaper published a picture of Schroder and Erdogan together with the caption "What will this friendship cost us?"

While US press described the decision as "historical", the Washington Times wrote that the negotiation date was determined but the majority of EU public opinion held reservations about Turkey. The newspaper expressed that the negotiations were a bridge between the Islamic world and Europe.