Bad Day for Turkey

It’s been a rough day for Turkey. According to the German language Tagesschau (haven’t seen it elsewhere), police shot and killed one demonstrator in the south eastern province of Van. Additionally, 5 civilians and two journalists were wounded. The protestors wanted several two Kurdish PKK members, killed recently by Turkish forces and buried anonymously, to be exhumed and buried in a place designated by the family. Protestors were on the way to a cemetary when the police stopped them. They then proceeded to throw stones at the police who responded with tear gas, shots in the air and a few direct shots into the crowd. Things like this only fuel the fire of those in Europe who oppose Turkey’s joining.And speaking of which…

EU: European Citizens’ Petition Opposes Turkey in EU

A petition drive aimed at stopping Turkey’s EU aspirations has begun in several European countries. Organizers of the “Voice for Europe” campaign say their goal is to collect at least 1 million signatures urging Europe’s politicians not to begin membership talks with Ankara. Leaders of the initiative say they are not financed by any political party and have no affiliation with any nationalist or extremist organizations. They say they are ordinary citizens who simply believe Turkey does not belong in the EU, and they want Brussels to take notice.

The petition reads:

We, the undersigned citizens of the European Union, with the aim of supporting and contributing to European integration and protecting European values:

a) Resolutely oppose the intention of our national governments gathered in the European Council, and that of the European Commission to enlarge the European Union with the Republic of Turkey.

b) Urge our national governments and EU institutions not to open negotiations for Turkeys accession to the EU.

Addressed to the European Parliament, European Council, Council of the EU, European Commission, governments of the member states and national parliaments.

So far, according to the website, there are 21,000 signatures, a number which is sure to grow. Why do they oppose Turkey’s membership, REFL tell us:

…Turkey’s EU membership is based on economic as well as political, geographic and cultural grounds. He says Turkey is too big and poor to be absorbed by the EU. If it joined, it would be the bloc’s largest member. He also notes that only 3 percent of Turkey’s territory lies in Europe and argues that Turkish society and its politicians do not share the continent’s values or its stability.

All good points, however I would argue Turkey doesn’t not share the same values, but rather shares many but not all of them. With Europe plunged into an identity crisis, this is not the kind of news that bodes well for Turkey especially considering that Chirac’s government is a bit shakey and German Chancellor Schröder won’t be around much longer. The German opposition opposes membership for Turkey and instead is calling for a “privledged partnership” which the Turks reject. Voice of Europe also proposes something similar claiming it is no different than what the Swiss and Norwegians have, forgetting of course that they don’t want to join and Turkey does.

Now is the time for a serious debate on the identity of Europe and the EU. Thus far it has only been informally defined. Questions about new members don’t extend only to Turkey but also to the Ukraine for example, which now politically has a much better chance. However, on the ground, how European is the Ukraine? Most would consider it far more Russian than European. I invite readers, especially European ones, to offer their thoughts on the identity of the EU? Should it be based more on culture and history like individual cultures in Europe are, or rather primarily on sharing the same ideas such as in the American model?