"...Ankara will take the hand offered by Brussels"

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
14/11/2011 22:03

Selling the enlargement policy to the EU public -- who fearfully watch the situation in a bankrupt Greece, a Portugal that is on the brink of a financial crisis, Spain, Italy and even France -- is as attractive as selling ice cream in freezing weather. Let alone promoting the enlargement policy, EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Füle seems to have been busy with learning lessons from the past and seems determined to make this EU policy one of the most relevant and successful.

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
14/11/2011 22:04

Not to repeat the same mistakes, he would like to make the Fundamental Rights and Justice Chapters (Chapter 23 and 24, respectively) the first to be opened and the last to be closed. Talking about Turkey, it is enough to have a look at the deteriorating situation of freedom of expression or to massive arrests and abusive pre-trial detentions to understand how right his proposal is. Because nobody ignores the fact that these two chapters are among the 18 chapters vetoed and because Turkey is currently debating a new constitution, the commissioner is pretty uncomfortable, and he is moving the jug from one shoulder to the other so that the EU's inconsistencies in its Turkey policy do not become so obvious. Before coming to the question as to why despite this Ankara should not leave the hand Füle extended unshaken, let me take a look at the current state of relations between Turkey and the EU

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
14/11/2011 22:05

Full story here - http://www.todayszaman.com/news-262512-i-have-no-doubt-ankara-will-take-the-hand-offered-by-brussels-by-hélène-flautre*.html

rowlo



Joined: 12/10/2008
Posts: 4796

Message Posted:
14/11/2011 22:28

turkey dont need eu no1.

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
14/11/2011 22:44

You could be right Rowlo.

Clarissa2


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 1476

Message Posted:
14/11/2011 22:54

Re: Msg 4,



The EU needs Turkey even less.

Erkin


Joined: 15/06/2011
Posts: 339

Message Posted:
14/11/2011 23:16

Turkey does not need E.U but E.U needs Turkey badly, U all seem to forget that in 1979 Turkey and Greece were both offered E.U member without all the crap they are dishing out now. Turkey declined to enter the E.U at the time because of one condition that was imposed on Ankara, Pull out of Cyprus and join, Ankara told Brussels then and will do again in the not so distant future. Can most of you remember what Azerbajan was like 15 years ago and what it is like now. Well like all u seem to forget that Ankara is only wasting time with this, just to keep itself occupied. Remember folks The Agreement signed by Turkey in 1923 Laussane agrement, well how long is it before it expires, 11 years, Turkey is sitting on one of the largest reserves in alot of things.

2ndly next year you have the presidently elections as Mr Erdogan tipped as the fav to take over with enough seats in parliment, it would not even go to the 2nd round. Plus the fact by changing the law he will be eligable for 5+5 2 term

Erkin


Joined: 15/06/2011
Posts: 339

Message Posted:
14/11/2011 23:27

in office, enough for Mr Erdogan to creat the perfect Middle East and North African Arab Union. That's Ankaras aim. Brussles is nothing if Ankara turned off all the Gas and oil running through Turkey, 50% of all Pipelines go through Turkey. The panic that the stock exchanges in Europe will creat will sutter Europe to pieces, If some of you recall, In order even for Cyprus to export to the gas to E.U, they are under pressure to get the Cyprus deal finished before taking over the EU office in July, the same reason, otherwise it will be to costly for Cyprus to export the gas in Ships or set up a new pipeline via Greece. The Greek Administraion is fully aware of that as well. I bet anything that the 12 th hour deal will be rushed through for Federal state by then, I live on the Greekside and the no of E.U, USA, Russian high level talks with diplomats coming and going over the last 3 weeks is amazing, even the once sleepy UN presence in the street is seen more.

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
14/11/2011 23:52

Clearly something going on Erkin.

Ed1957


Joined: 03/09/2011
Posts: 377

Message Posted:
15/11/2011 11:30

I agree, Turkey is only paying lip service to joining the EU, other plans in hand.

ilovecyprus


Joined: 08/05/2007
Posts: 2880

Message Posted:
15/11/2011 11:58

msge 7 and 8



Very interesting posts Erkin. Thanks for sharing

Clarissa2


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 1476

Message Posted:
15/11/2011 13:23

Re: Msg 7,



In 1978-79 the European Economic Community suggested that Turkey APPLY for EEC membership, not join the EEC - two different things! Turkey declined only because they asked Greece to apply at the same time, not for other reasons.



"Turkey does not need E.U but E.U needs Turkey badly..."



If the EU needs Turkey so badly, why don't they just admit it into the EU?

newlad



Joined: 02/03/2008
Posts: 7819

Message Posted:
15/11/2011 13:27

Could it be because they are a muslim country Clarissa,



Paul.

Clarissa2


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 1476

Message Posted:
15/11/2011 13:34

Re: Msg 13,

Could it be because they are a non-European country, Paul?

Erkin


Joined: 15/06/2011
Posts: 339

Message Posted:
15/11/2011 13:46

Nothing to do with being a muslim country or non european country, looking at the enlargment policy of the E.U countries like Armenia are not in Europe but E.U has plans to take them into the E.U



The only reason why Turkey can not be admited into the E.U at the present time is very simple, As the number od seats for each country with-in the E.U is based on population of a country, and consdiering the size of Turkey and population would give Turkey a greater no of seats then any other country in E.U, and also would take around 55-60% of the E.U budget to re-build Turkey to E.U standards.



The only reason why Turkey is needed in E.U is that it has the youngest population in Europe and youngest workforce but buy keeping Turkey out of the E.U until all the other smaller countries have joined will Turkey less of a say with the E.U framework.

Clarissa2


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 1476

Message Posted:
15/11/2011 13:50

Re: Msg 7&8,



BTW, these were two major mistakes : to ask Turkey to apply in 1979 and in 2004 to let a divided Cyprus to join the EU.



You also seem to forget that 90% of foreign direct investment and 80% of Turkey’s technology come from Europe.

Clarissa2


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 1476

Message Posted:
15/11/2011 13:56

Re: 15,



Erkin, please where on earth did you get it about Armenia?!

There NEVER been any plans to admit Armenia!



Next thing you will be saying that the EU should admit Iran and Iraq because they have oil.

Erkin


Joined: 15/06/2011
Posts: 339

Message Posted:
15/11/2011 13:56

Why else would the idiots of Brussels have allowed the Gc goverment to enter on a rushed deal, on average it atkes anything between 12-15 for all the chapters of the E.U to be completed before an acountry can be allowed to enter and yet Cyprus talks started in 1997 and completed in 2003 in prepartion to the Annan plan. for one



2ndly the Idiots of Brussels false hope to Tc that if the Gc object they will be dealing with TRNC in a different status which has not happened



why?

Well as we all know the operation of E.U is based on all 27 countries having the right of say and veto, so by allowing the Gc to enter you are blocking all that E.U promised the Tc, at present over 5billion euro of funds is sitting in Brussels, waitng for the Tc to use but with the Gc blocking a single cent being used.

Thats the double standards of E.U which we all seem to love and hate.

ilovecyprus


Joined: 08/05/2007
Posts: 2880

Message Posted:
15/11/2011 14:05

msge 17



I am not sure if the EU knows what its boundaries are. The ex editor of the Economist predicts that Europe will court middle eastern countries. As Erkin says Europe's problem is one of age. We don't have enough young blood to pay taxes to pay for our pensions. Turkey and the middle east have lots of young blood. They also need to find a way to ensure that those in the middle east raise their standard of living so economic migrants dont flood old europe. Not an easy problem to solve.

Clarissa2


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 1476

Message Posted:
15/11/2011 14:17

Re: Msg 19,



China and Pakistan have even more young blood , in fact so much they don't know what to do with it.

ilovecyprus


Joined: 08/05/2007
Posts: 2880

Message Posted:
15/11/2011 14:28

msge 20



You are way off base with China. China has a mean population of 34 in contrast to India which is 23. The Chinese may become the richest country just at the point that their population disappears. China also has the problem of about 100 million single men because of their single child policy.



Why would the EU court the Middle East? It may not just be about people but also resources.

Erkin


Joined: 15/06/2011
Posts: 339

Message Posted:
15/11/2011 14:36

Msg 17, check your facts, Armenia started talks on the E.U in 2009 along with Georgie, as msg 19 states the E.U are not sure where the borders of Europe start and finish. so get facts right before you right.....

newlad



Joined: 02/03/2008
Posts: 7819

Message Posted:
15/11/2011 14:55

And Turkey started talks in July 1959.



Paul.

ilovecyprus


Joined: 08/05/2007
Posts: 2880

Message Posted:
15/11/2011 15:14

ps the Middle east would be a fantastic export market for European countries.

Clarissa2


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 1476

Message Posted:
15/11/2011 15:16

Re: Msg 22,



Erkin, p-l-e-a-s-e, I don't need to check my facts, these are the talks about so-called European neighbourhood policy etc. etc. etc., NOT about accession!

The EU has all sorts of 'talks' with all sorts of countries (even Iran!).

Erkin


Joined: 15/06/2011
Posts: 339

Message Posted:
15/11/2011 16:42

msg 22 sorry but info not correct in 2009 accession talks started with the 2 countries, I attended an education program in Brussels at the time.



This is what gave the French the idea of a med union instead of E.U for all, to include Turkey and North African countries.

ilovecyprus


Joined: 08/05/2007
Posts: 2880

Message Posted:
15/11/2011 16:46

Msge 26



You are right Erkin, I forgot that they wanted to call it the med union.

rocking


Joined: 05/11/2008
Posts: 421

Message Posted:
15/11/2011 17:35

Great messages Erkin very interesting.

Clarissa2


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 1476

Message Posted:
15/11/2011 20:30

Re: Msg 26,

I'm sorry too, the info is correct. Mixing cherries with tomatoes again?

Armenia is NOT going into EU in the foreseeable future.

What they did, they started formal negotiations on the signing of an "association agreement" on the

Eastern Partnership, which is NOT a full EU membership, but a privilege status, which e.g. Turkey has had for donkey's years.

As for the Med Union, again, it is entirely different thing: EU plus another 16 Med countries.



Anyway, the topic was about Turkey and the EU, or was it?

rowlo



Joined: 12/10/2008
Posts: 4796

Message Posted:
15/11/2011 20:55

back to the original ? , why would turkey want to join something on the verge of collapse ? , and why would they want to spend billions of lira/euros , propping up the greeks , its a no brainer really , as i said , turkey dont need eu , but eu needs turkey ,

Erkin


Joined: 15/06/2011
Posts: 339

Message Posted:
16/11/2011 08:00

Well we always bail out the Greeks by buying back some of the islands that are disputed along the agean coastline.

crofter


Joined: 16/12/2008
Posts: 1035

Message Posted:
16/11/2011 16:57

What an excellent thread this is, please keep it going all those that know their stuff. Well said Erkin and others.