What Is Turkey Willing to Do for Europe?

Ankara's new leaders have recently made efforts to initiate EU accession negotiations. But the nation's mere willpower to reform cannot bring about changes. The nation's value system should not be tied to ethnic and religious groups. Instead, it ought to be a moral codex which Turkey accepts for EU membership, says Yesilyurt Gündüz.

According to a study conducted by the research institute TESEV, more than 64% of Turks surveyed are in favor of entering the European Union and 50% declared Turkey fit for accession. The majority of the Turkish population perceives EU membership as blending into Europe. So in a way, integration into the EU means that Turkey is considered to be European. This is a significant psychological element in Turkish-European relations. It must be understood and accepted on the diplomatic level as an element of reciprocal influence.

Turkey stands before a long and rocky road to reform. The revisions already carried out in the constitution are, however, evidence of hope and success. Turkey understands the essence of fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria as an entry requirement for the European Union. The new government is going to continue its hard work and implement the necessary measures. The continuation of the transition reforms and their implementation in everyday life are necessary to reach the prescribed democratic standards. Constitutional law must prevail and human rights must be respected.

Numerous political reforms must still be carried out:

  1. Adaptation of Turkish democratic standards to the European level
  2. Freedom of expression based on the constitution and jurisprudence (within the framework of European Court decisions which embrace freedom of expression and rule out the use of violence)
    Elimination of all human rights restrictions
  3. Administration of necessary state protection for Turkey and at the same time, widespread practice of freedom of expression, public assembly and organizations.
  4. Constitutional changes to ensure the EU the right to administer law, to administer the community acquis and to ensure precedence of European jurisprudence.
  5. Lower inflation
  6. Stabilization of economy
  7. Elimination of the great decline of Turkey's national economy
  8. Implementation of a long-term economic support program for the undeveloped regions in southern Anatolia, so that the eastern Turkish economy is raised to the level of western Turkey
  9. Administration of agricultural reforms aimed at higher efficiency and a lower employment ratio in the sector (at the moment 40% of the population)
  10. Improvement of the insufficient social security system

Requirements for EU Membership

Article 237 of the EMU Agreement (Article O in the Agreement on the European Union) states that the only requirement for the European Union is that a state has to be "European". "European" is not only a geographical attribute but also a historical and cultural one, and thus, the European Council speaks of a European identity. Apart from the written requirements, there are many unwritten stipulations. A state willing to enter the Union must provide evidence for its pluralist-democratic system and adhere to human rights. In order to maintain the functional capacity of the Union, the candidate must have a well-functioning, free market economy, as well as an adequate legal and administrative framework. The candidate must be willing to accept the acquis communautaire in its entirety, support the goals of the Union and carry out the EU's foreign and security policies.

Political integration also demands a "mutual culture" in a broad sense. This does not, by any means, denote a complete melting pot of national identities. In fact, the EU plans to be a union which respects national identities, different cultures, traditions and values and to incorporate these characteristics in new, mutual policies.

It is important to emphasize and promote several basic political values and principles, such as parliamentary democracy, constitutional law, social justice, as well as freedom and respect towards human rights.

The "European" identity is not tied to ethnic or religious groups but rather, values. In this sense, every state, including Turkey, which accepts basic values such as democracy, human rights and constitutional law can become a member of the European Union. The dream of a unified Europe "from the Atlantic to the Ural " is still alive.

From: International Politics 2/03, © 2003 Bertelsmann-Verlag

Dr. Zuhal Yesilyurt Gündüz is member of the academic staff at the Institute for Political Science and International Relations a Baskent University in Ankara.

Translation from German: Helen Groumas