Do you want Turkey in the EU?

[Bereta_Eder]

Today is the day that the EU ministers will decide if Turkey will get the green light for talks about entrance to the EU. Most probably they will say yes. Croatia talks on the other hand have been postponed but that's another matter.

Turkey's drive towards the EU started a long long time ago. Not only when it filed its application but also from the time Ataturk formed modern Turkey. The whole country is "attuned" to sheding its oriental character (or not letting it become an obstacle) and belong in Europe.
Personally I think that if a country is being formed with this aspect in mind eventually it will come through.

Of course there are matters of concern still.

However would you like to see Turkey enter and if so why?

[molly bloom]

Yes.

Why ?

Because Turkey (like Malta and Cyprus) already has a foot in both camps- part European, part Asian.

[Spiffor]

Immediately, or in the short-medium run: No. The EU isn't ready for any new big expansion. We have to sort out much of our mess before even pondering letting Turkey join.

On principle: Yes. Oh yes.

[Cort Haus]

Not until they've arrested their 1915 war crims!

Oh, hang on - am I getting my Balkan EU Wannabees muddled up?

[VetLegion]

I support Turkish entry. Not so much because I have studied the issue in depth - I haven't - but because I have read that Turkish traditional archenemy, Greece, officially supports their entry. I guess they know Turkey well and if they don't oppose it, I don't either

[Sikander]

If the EU can tolerate Greece then tolerating Turkey should be no problem.

[Gangerolf]

The EU got to learn to walk properly before attempting the pole vault.

[Cort Haus]

Originally posted by Sikander
If the EU can tolerate Greece then tolerating Turkey should be no problem.

No, I think Vet was right. If Greece can handle Turkey in the EU, anyone can. Also, Turkey is the most modernising influence on Islam around, AFAICS, and the EU needs modern, secular muslims to counteract the Hizbies and other 7th century fanatics who are too loud a voice atm.

[Gangerolf]

Admitting Turkey, at least in the near future, would also be yet another major democratic problem for the EU. Only the politicians seem to want the Turks in.

Teh People have said their no/nein/ne:





(Why are the Hungarians so positive btw?)

[Ecthy]

Come the new government, not only Austria but also Germany will oppose Turkish entry. We didn't fight them off at Vienna for nothing you know

I'm pro, generally, dito Spiff.

[VetLegion]

Originally posted by Gangerolf
Teh People have said their no/nein/ne:

Teh people were not asked when the recent expansion was happening, and people will not be asked do they want Romania and Bulgaria in.

Asking people only about Turkey would be somewhat hypocritical.

BTW., average EU support for Croatian and Serbian entry is also about 30% (those answering yes), which seems similar to Turkish figure from the graph you posted.

[molly bloom]

Originally posted by Gangerolf



(Why are the Hungarians so positive btw?)

Turkish coffee, Turkish baths, Turkish architecture:

Pécs
Mysterious funeral caves from the Roman times, Turkish djamis with a cupola, slim minarets, finely handcrafted Zsolnay ceramics, fantastic Csontváry paintings, decorative Vasarely models, and almond trees blooming in early spring among pleasant restaurants and cafes - this is Pécs.

In this town you can find the most important archaeological sites dating from the 150 years Turkish rule: the Djami of Pasha Gazi Kaszim (Széchenyi tér) with a green cupola giving a unique look to this part of the town, with Mohammedan sedile, ogee arch windows. Today it serves as a Catholic Church. The Djami of Pasha Yakovali Hassan (Rákóczi u.2.) - the best-preserved masterpiece of Mohammedan architecture in the country, is today a house of prayer, which houses in its museum historical and artistic Turkish objects. You can climb to the top of the 83 step circular stairs of the 23 metre minaret. The Türbey of Idrisz Baba (Nyár u.8.) is a Turkish site of pilgrimage on Rókus Hill. You can visit a spa bath museum at the remnants of the Bath of Memi Pasha (Ferencesek u.33.). There are also important archaeological finds from the Baroque age: Franciscan Church and Monastery (Ferencesek utcája 35) which contains baroque furniture made by Franciscan monks. The building of the Lyceum church and former Paulian monastery (Király u.44.) is one of the most important Baroque monuments of the town. The Church of All-Hallows (Tettye u.), with the Carmelite cloister next to it. Havihegyi Ladykin chapel: built in 1691 by the survivors of the Black Death. The interesting feature of the Saint Augustine Church (Ágoston tér) is an ogee-arched window of the former Turkish mosque. In the Church of Charity Sisters (Széchenyi tér 5.) within an Eclectic forefront, unique inlaid altars are on display. A speciality of the town is the Secessionist style Zsolnay fountain on the town main square (Széchenyi-tér), with eosin enamel.

http://www.magyarorszag.hu/angol/orszaginfo/turizmus/latnivalo/k_dunantul/deldunantul_a.html

[Gangerolf]

Vet, so you think democracy is hypocritical?

At least those other countries are European so admitting them into the European Union is only natural. Turkey is not European. But I still think it should be possible for Turkey to join some time in the future.

Ten years (that's how long they say it will take if it starts today) of negotiations with Turkey is not what the EU needs right now. For one, they should sort out the entire constitution thingy.

[Gangerolf]

Molly, so the Turks raped and pillaged Hungary for a while and left some old buildings. OK, that explains it

[Pekka]

No, they have never done anything bad. Quite the opposite. Everone just died, who knows how.. but they have never done anything bad, never. Western media lies.