Q&A: Turkey's EU entry talks with Turkish Citizen Comments. (Man on Street Comment Alert)

Turkey finally began talks on joining the European Union in October 2005, more than 40 years after it first began to woo the emerging bloc.

What are the main problems? More generally, what are the main arguments for and against Turkish membership of the EU, and how does the accession process work?

The European Commission says Turkey must open its ports and airports to traffic from EU member Cyprus. Turkey says it will not do this until the EU takes steps to end the Turkish Cypriot community's economic isolation.

The Commission also says that Turkey's efforts to bring its laws into line with European standards have slowed down. It is especially calling on Turkey to repeal a law which it says undermines freedom of speech.

The European Commission is not at this point recommending slowing down the pace of membership talks.

BBC correspondents in Brussels say a decision to partially suspend the talks could be taken in December.

Until recently EU officials talked about possible Turkish membership in 10 to 15 years. Recently European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso used the phrase "15 to 20 years".

Some EU states are keen to ensure that Turkey does not feel that the door is being slammed in its face, and that membership remains a real possibility in future.

Other member states have always been rather cool about the idea of Turkish membership.

No. The EU describes the negotiations as "an open-ended process, the outcome of which cannot be guaranteed beforehand".

Also, France and Austria have said they will hold referendums on whether to ratify Turkey's accession treaty, if the membership talks ever reach a successful conclusion.

It says it will not, unless the EU fulfils a commitment to start direct trade with the Turkish Cypriot community. The problem is that Cyprus - an EU member since 2004 - will not agree to this.

The EU's Finnish presidency is busy trying to find a way of ending the deadlock.

A range of arguments can be heard inside the EU. One is that Turkey is not culturally "European".

Another is that it will cause a wave of Turkish immigrants. A third is that widening the EU to include Turkey will prevent further deepening of political and economic union. A fourth is that Turkey is too big, and will therefore exercise too much power within the EU. A fifth is that it is too poor, and will cost the rest of the EU too much.

The former president of the European Commission, Jacques Delors, once said that the EU was a "Christian club". That view continues to be held in some European Christian Democrat parties.

In Turkey, there is some impatience with the EU's demands for reform, and fear that its insistence on minority rights for the Kurds will cause the country to break up.

One of the main arguments is that it will help forge a bond between the West and the Muslim world, and help Turkey spread stability in the volatile region beyond its eastern and southern borders.

Another is that Turkey's young and increasingly well-educated population can help the EU cope with the problems of an ageing population.

For Turkey, one of the attractions is a further step in its journey of modernisation, which the foundation of the Turkish Republic began. Membership of the EU's single market is a big incentive, as well as the freedom to travel or work in other countries, without applying for a visa.

For the Kurds, who make up 20% of the population, EU membership is a guarantee against discrimination.

For the moment the European Union is focusing on fulfilment of Turkey's promise to open its ports - and its airports - to Cypriot traffic.

However, a declaration issued by EU member states in September 2005 says that Turkey must recognise Cyprus before it becomes a member of the EU, and calls on Turkey to normalise relations with all EU member states.

Cyprus, France, Austria and Denmark are distinctly cool about Turkish membership. Germany's governing Christian Democratic Union also thinks that Turkey should be offered a "privileged partnership" rather than full membership.

The UK, the Scandinavian countries and the states which joined the EU in 2004 are broadly in favour of Turkey's candidacy.

The key decisions have been taken by leaders of the 25 EU member states. At a summit in Copenhagen in 2002 they promised to open talks "without delay", provided Turkey made sufficient progress on democracy, human rights and legal reforms.

The European Commission published a progress report in 2004, which gave Turkey the thumbs up. Then, in December 2004, the 25 EU leaders said the talks should begin on 3 October 2005.

This deadline was met, just about, when the foreign ministers of all 25 EU states reached a last-minute agreement on a text setting a framework for the negotiations on the evening of 3 October.

Austria prolonged the negotiations for two reasons. First, it wanted the framework to explicitly mention the possibility that the talks could result in "privileged partnership" rather than full membership. Second, it wanted an explicit mention of the limits to the EU's capacity to absorb new members.

The text finally agreed preserves the original wording that "the shared objective of the negotiations is accession."

But it adds: "While having full regard to all (EU political criteria), including the absorption capacity of the Union, if Turkey is not in a position to assume in full all the obligations of membership it must be ensured that Turkey is fully anchored in the European structures through the strongest possible bond."

FROM THE COMMENTS OF TURKISH CITIZENS SECTION:

			Derya Recent graduate, 23 I think we have really big problems about freedom of speech and things, but I don't think the EU is being fair. I think they don't want us as members but they don't want to say so openly, so they find excuses. I used to be hopeful we would join. Now I don't think so. France is very powerful.

			Suat Beylur Political adviser, 30 I think Turkey has done everything well on Cyprus and other issues like freedom of speech and human rights. But the EU is not being honest or loyal with us. Of course I want Turkey to join the EU as soon as possible. The EU is best for our future, not the Middle East or anything else. [emphasis added]


			Alper Ozenay Doctor, 30 I'm not optimistic. The EU is just doing what Cyprus wants. Every year we give something, and they still say it's not enough. Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia are not better than us, but they're Christian. They say they want Turkey, but I know they don't.


			Aydin Ozaksoy Accountant, 39 The EU doesn't want us. They are all Christian, I don't think they'll accept a Muslim country. Remember the crusaders? Turkey should join the EU because it's a huge market for us. We should be part of that. But it's all a big game for them. I don't think the problems will finish with Cyprus.

			Nezahat Sen Pensioner, 80 The report is not fair. The things that they ask for from Turkey are very tough. As the Turkish republic, we can't give those things. It's a matter of honour. So I am against the EU. We have been making too many concessions.

			Beyhan Hukum Housewife, 42 Europe is not honest with us and I think there is no need for it - we can take care of ourselves. I pity my country for trying to become a member. Crusaders have been coming here for centuries. They want to divide Turkey. I am afraid that in the next 20 years we will not have a country to leave to our children.

			Yigit Sahin Unemployed, 37 The report is not critical, it's routine. Every year they say this kind of thing. The EU is like a parrot. Is our human rights situation any worse than France or Greece? I don't see the difference. We're fed up with it all. Turkey is a pretty democratic country. It's not perfect - but it's better than the US. [emphasis added]
			Ozge Aslankaya Student, 22 It has always been the same. They always ask for more from Turkey. They are pushing us too far. The situation recently has put me off the idea of joining. I don't know now if we will, but I don't suppose so.

			Irfan Aktan Journalist, 22 I was surprised there were not more serious warnings from the EU in the progress report. We Turks who want a more democratic system were expecting it to be more radical. There are still human rights abuses, and the military is still dominant in politics.
			Hurriyet Unver Self-employed, 44 The EU never had bright thoughts about Turkey, so this report was no surprise. I think many things that the EU asks Turkey to do are for Turkey's good in any case. Once we solve these problems, it won't be important if the EU accepts us or not. Text and photos: Sarah Rainsford

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