Turkish businessmen lobby for EU entry in Berlin

"We are trying to explain that Turkey’s membership in the EU will not only be in Turkey’s interest. This membership will be beneficial for all sides," said prominent businessman Omer Sabanci, who headed the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) delegation.

He was speaking after talks with two senior officials of the Christian Democrat parties, deputy parliamentary group chairmen Friedrich Merz and Wolfgang Schaeuble. Earlier in the day, the delegation met with Greens leader Claudia Roth and Social Democratic Union Chairman Franz Muentefering.

EU leaders will decide on Dec. 17 whether or not to open long-delayed accession talks with Turkey. On Oct. 6, the EU Commission released a report saying that Turkey has sufficiently fulfilled the Copenhagen criteria and recommended that accession talks with Turkey begin.

Christian Democrats in Germany oppose Turkey’s membership and seek instead a "privileged partnership" that falls short of full membership.

On Thursday, the TUSIAD delegation met with Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Secretary-General Laurenz Meyer, who remained defiant to the proposal for alternatives other than membership.

"We want the accession talks to be open-ended so that alternatives other than membership can be considered," Meyer said after meeting with the Turkish businessmen, referring to the EU Commission’s proposal that talks be an open-ended process whose outcome cannot be guaranteed.

European conservatives fear that with Turkish membership, the European market will be flooded with Turkish immigrants and that Turkey will get chunk of EU funds.

Some 2.5 million Turks are living in Germany. Meyer said it was important that Turks in Germany learn German, emphasizing it would be highly difficult for them to find jobs otherwise.

Schily: Turkish entry will help fight against terrorism
Contrary to the conservative opposition parties, the German government is a staunch supporter of Turkey’s bid to join the EU, saying Turkey would boost Europe’s strategic weight and strengthen security.

"The importance of the Turkish membership should not be underestimated. If Turkey, with its Muslim population and secular system, continues to defend European values, this will be very important in the fight against terrorism," said German Interior Minister Otto Schily at a conference organized by TUSIAD in Berlin on Thursday.

This was because "radical Islamic groups are trying to erect walls between Islamic world and the West," he said.

Schily noted arguments that the EU was not capable of absorbing such a big country like Turkey but said Turkey’s accession would significantly boost EU’s strategic capacity.