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Boost to Turkey's EU bid

The European Commission's announcement of a draft framework for talks on Turkey's accession to the European Union (EU) is a welcome boost to the country's decades-long bid — as an associate member from 1963 and an official candidate from 1999. The development also bodes well for the continent's long-term stability, especially in the context of the recent setbacks to the quest for political integration. Entry negotiations, to which the EU council of ministers and heads of state and government have committed themselves, are scheduled to begin this October subject to unanimous endorsement of the framework by the 25 member-states. But the likely prospect of Germany's Christian Democrats winning the September election and general opposition to enlargement from the far right in France and Austria means Turkey's predominantly Muslim population will remain a potent issue during the lengthy negotiations. France and Austria have even promised their peoples that they will hold a referendum on Turkey's EU bid. Ironically, Turkey is the natural candidate among Muslim countries for membership considering its long record of developing a secular, modern, and pluralist ethos as well as its partnership with the Western bloc as a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the Central Treaty Organisation. The country's strategic importance for the EU in building bridges with Central and West Asia can hardly be overstated in today's geopolitical scenario — a point underscored by the advocates of Turkey's admission including the United Kingdom, which currently holds the EU Council presidency.

The terms of Turkey's admission, the most stringent thus far on European enlargement, include a consensus among member-states on each of the 35 policy areas for deliberation and the right to suspend talks if one-third of the states or the Commission propose such a motion. Negotiations, which will continue until 2014, are open-ended. They signal the possibility of a privileged partnership, rather than full membership, although no applicant so far has failed to secure entry. Turkey's record on democratic rule and respect for human rights came under a cloud following its ugly dispute with Greece over Cyprus and its 1974 military invasion of an independent state. To the credit of its leadership, the country has embarked on a programme of radical judicial reforms and abolished the death penalty in line with the basic tenets of the EU. Turkey has also — in fulfilment of the Copenhagen criteria towards becoming a market economy — extended to the Republic of Cyprus, a new EU member not recognised by Turkey itself, the Ankara Customs Union Agreement with the EU. Given the unresolved issues, "a civil society dialogue" due to begin in the EU in 2006 on enlargement generally and on Turkey's accession in particular will enhance the legitimacy of future exercises towards greater integration in Europe.

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