Cameron is right about Turkey
Roland Rudd
The Prime Minister was absolutely right to say that the EU needs to let Turkey make greater progress towards joining the EU.
Eventual Turkish membership would give a great boost to the EU’s Economy. The Prime Minister pointed out that Turkey grew at a rate of 11% at the start of the year, and is estimated to become Europe’s second largest economy by 2050. The single market, investment and the demographic balance of the EU would all benefit from Turkish membership.
Opponents say that Turkey is not geographically or culturally European. Many who advance these arguments use them as a mask for their real objection: they don’t want a Muslim country in the EU.
The geographer’s point was answered by the EU when it accepted in 1999 that it has the potential to fulfil the Copenhagen membership criteria. From a political and cultural perspective, there are many ways of measuring how “European” a country is. One for example might be women’s rights. Turkey achieved women’s suffrage in 1930. France only managed it in 1944 and Switzerland in 1971 (the UK achieved this in 1928). Of course Turkey has a long way to go in human rights, freedom of the press and other areas, but it has made great progress and is already more ‘European’ than many think.
Finally, Islam. Turkey is a beacon of progress as a fully democratic, strongly secular and highly competitive Muslim country. Across Europe and the Middle East, moderate Muslims fight to have their voices heard and many feel alienated.
The EU healed old wounds by taking in ex-communist countries, releasing a fantastic burst of dynamism and growth. The political and economic significance of accepting Turkey would be just as great.
