Turkey got a date from the EU!

[C0ckney]

i don't know if anyone read the papers today but a recent poll in turkey found that half the population (that's 36 million people folks) would leave and start a new life if turkey joined the EU. now i don't think 36 million people would do that, but there would still be millions of immigrants flooding in. that puts me off right from the start.

plus all of turkey's awful problems, its economic weakness, the fact it isn't even in europe and also the fact that my government is the major supporter of turkey entering would lead me to vote no.

[BeBMan]

Conspiracy theory: the US wants Turkey in the EU because this could cause problems for the EU

[Arrian]

The black helicopters have been despatched, Bebro.

-Arrian

[axi]

"Istanbul was Constantinople
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Now it's Turkish delight on a moonlit night

Every gal in Constantinople
Lives in Istanbul, not Constantinople
So if you've a date in Constantinople
She'll be waiting in Istanbul..."

Do you know that the band was paid by the turkish foreign ministry to write this song?

[BeBMan]

Originally posted by Arrian
The black helicopters have been despatched, Bebro.

-Arrian

I couldn't find my tinfoil hat

[Arrian]

Originally posted by axi


Do you know that the band was paid by the turkish foreign ministry to write this song?

Are you serious? That's hilarious.

-Arrian

[Thue]

Originally posted by C0ckney
i don't know if anyone read the papers today but a recent poll in turkey found that half the population (that's 36 million people folks) would leave and start a new life if turkey joined the EU. now i don't think 36 million people would do that, but there would still be millions of immigrants flooding in. that puts me off right from the start.

That is why they will probably not allow free immigration right away even if Turkey joins the EU. If at some point we won't be flooded then they can ease the restriction.

[laurentius]

Originally posted by Mercator


Um, isn't it obvious that Turkey will only become a member when they actually meet the requirements?

Even if the entire EU would vote 100% for Turkey's entrance, they would only be allowed in when their human rights record is cleared, when they recognize Cyprus, when the influence of the military is dealt with, when the economy is up to par etc. Just like with any other aspiring member.

Why is it that everyone is so vehemently against Turkey when the other countries trying to enter also do not yet meet all requirements? Why the hell do we even have those damn referenda? I just don't see it.

So of course, they aren't ready for entry now. But I would expect that even if all the negotiations would go flawlessly, Turkey wouldn't enter until 2015 at the very earliest.

I thought those referenda were about whether we should allow Turkey in ever, not whether to let them in right now. Saying "no" to that would be a big mistake.

So, a resounding "yes" for the Turkish entry here.

Yes of course, this is what I mean.
I dont think the referendum is anymore "final word" than anything else in europes history.

[C0ckney]

Originally posted by Thue

That is why they will probably not allow free immigration right away even if Turkey joins the EU. If at some point we won't be flooded then they can ease the restriction.

well both our governments allowed it for the last expansion so what's to say they wouldn't do it again?

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by C0ckney
well both our governments allowed it for the last expansion so what's to say they wouldn't do it again?

And did you have a surge of POles and Czechs?

[Thue]

Originally posted by C0ckney


well both our governments allowed it for the last expansion so what's to say they wouldn't do it again?

Because this time it is somewhat based in fact, whereas we were not flooded the last time. Our governments don't want to be flooded by immigration any more than we do.

[C0ckney]

there's been a fair few spiff, even where my parents live, and that's in the arse end of nowhere. also i'll bet that half of poland's or the czech republic's population didn't say they'd leave when their countries joined the EU

thue, our government (and courts) have proved themselves to be incapable of handling immigration in the past, no matter what they might 'want'.

[klinastrom]

The expected happened. Much to Turkey's sadness the negotiations are open ended. Meaning they could end in failure. I'm sure that's what the EU governments have in mind. A failure on behalf of Turkey so they can press ahead their special relationship idea with Turkey. I don't even think that they would even need to use the safety clause of 1/3 of EU members saying no which would cause the negotiations to stop.
I think Turkey will fail because its problems are endemic in contrast with the european countries problems. All its human abuses, genocides, invasion and occupation and its lack of freedom of speech are because of the military semi-junta. But if this is taken away Turkey will fall back on open islamism. It is a dead end, one that has probably already been identified by the EU which neverhteless wants Turkey to be closer to it and not to Asia hence the negotiations procedures.
I hope this will help Turkey to ameliorate itself but it would be fooling itself if it actually believes they will sometime enter.

[St Leo]

"Mankind is a single body and each nation a part of that body. We must never say 'What does it matter to me if some part of the world is ailing?' If there is such an illness, we must concern ourselves with it as though we were having that illness."
- Kemal Atatürk

[klinastrom]

I think when he was saying "illness" he meant the Armenians...