8/6/2019 To Be (With Eu) or Not to Be (With Eu)

1/2

27.09.2010

TO BE (WITH EU) OR NOT TO BE (WITH EU)

We often see the news about EU and the membership of Turkey to EU on media. On the newspaper

we read these news and we watch the debates regarding to this on TV. Everybody says something.

Everyone comments on this topic. But anyone doesnt know which comment it is true. Firstly, beforeI make comment this column, I want to emphasis that the membership of Turkey to EU is important

and necessary because of three reasons, but it isnt an obligation. The first reason is that the

membership is a process which started in 1839 and continued in 1856, 1876 and 1909 andrises with

republican revolutions. Other reason is that the membership is important if Turkey wants to become

powerful in international system. And lastly, this is useful and beneficial for Turkey and the members

of EU and others. Out of this, it isnt an obligation and compulsion.

Last week Turkey was excited because of the Foreign Minister of Germany, Guido Westerwelles

explanation and however, some people in Germany disliked this. It is known by Turkey that France

and Germany didnt want the membership of Turkey to EU. Before I tell the signals EU need to give

Turkey and these are important, I want to explain that why Germany and France dont want thismembership according to me.

Germany is a state in the middle of Europe and it struggled for survival as an independent and

powerful state. Even, sometimes Germany tried to take under its authority Europe with two world

wars. We suppose that Germany dont want as a powerful state as itself in Europe especially if we

consider that Germanys effort and Bismarcks policies to found Unified Germany and to become

powerful in Europe. According to me, Germany is afraid of Turkeys population. If Turkey becomes a

member of EU, Turkey will be powerful in EU because of its population; even we suppose Turkey will

be more powerful. Like what John Maynard Keynes said in Versailles Conference after the WWI:

Germany is a motor of Europe, so the economics in Europe collapsed if it was excluded from Europe

and then in 1929 Great Depression occurred. Maybe Germany wants to continue to be a motor and it

didnt want to lose this characteristic.

If we consider France and its effect in Europe, we can understand easily that why France didnt want

the membership of Turkey to EU. In Thirty Years Wars France supported Protestants, whereas the

president of France, Cardinal Richelieu was a prince of Catholic Church. And because of this, he had

to support Habsburg Emperor who was a Catholics. But he knew that if the emperor won these wars,

France would be surrounded by the lands of Habsburg Empire and France would be damaged, maybe

be destroyed. Thats why; he supported Protestants, incited them against the emperor and gave

money to them to war against him. He succeeded and the war lasted through thirty years and in

these wars the states in the Middle Europe, of course Habsburg Empire exhausted each others. After

these wars, twenty-five states were founded in the Middle Europe. They were German states.

Therefore the authority disappeared in the Middle Europe and France was saved from a very

dangerous. Until 1871, Unified Germany was founded by Otto Von Bismarck with blood and iron; if

we didnt deem the power of United Kingdom over Europe, France would be the most important and

strongest. In this case we suppose that France dont want to give this leadership to Turkey after

Germany, the United Kingdom, maybe other powers.

8/6/2019 To Be (With Eu) or Not to Be (With Eu)

2/2

Anyway, the phrases in the above are an assumption, of course. But after Turkey endeavor for the

membership, EU should do something, especially while some people give up the membership of

Turkey to EU and the confidence of people in Turkey to EU decreases slowly.

In his column the author mentioned that EU liked the policies which were applied by Turkey to

destroy PKK politically. I dont know if this view belonged to him or EU, but I dont agree. Maybe this

is a heavy view, but the terror can never be destroyed just politically. Firstly, according to me, this

phrase the author used is mistaken. However, EU is treating mistakenly about some topics, like

Cyprus-Greek Question and Armenian Question. Firstly, EU must be fair and neutral. Secondly, it

must be approach to some issues by thinking majority, mustnt apply the policies by thinking just one

or two country. And if EU or the countries which are members of EU dont want to lose Turkey like

losing the confidence of people in Turkey, it, or they should do something.

In conclusion, What Foreign Minister of Germany, Guido Westerwelle gave the declaration to Wall

Street Journal and said pleased much more people in Turkey. In these days Turkey lost the

confidence and hopes against EU, this situation is very important for Turkey; but isnt sufficient.

Before one of the governments in Turkey give up the membership of Turkey to EU completely, EU

should do something to win the confidence of Turkey again and it isnt late!

ERAY ARIK

2008636009

Department of International Relations

2. Class / 2010-2011 Education Years