Turkey and the Unrest in the European Union

Turkey and the Unrest in the European Union Rachael Casady

Turkey, Demographics • Population • 79, 749, 461 (July 2012 est. ) • Ethnic groups Turkish 70 -75%, Kurdish 18%, other minorities 7 -12% (2008 est. ) Religions Muslim 99. 8% (mostly Sunni), other 0. 2% (mostly Christians and Jews) Languages Turkish (official), Kurdish, other minority languages • Economy is growing in Turkey • Turkey’s economic freedom score is 62. 9, making its economy the 69 th freest in the 2013 Index, . 4 better than last year • World Average is 59. 6, free economies are 84. 5

Prime Minister of Turkey • Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. • Terms = 4 years Unlimited • Prime Minister since 2003 • Negotiations for accession started during his tenure. • EU does not like his Human Rights Laws.

Issues with Cyprus • Geographically located in asia, became a member of the EU in 2004 • Eight Chapters have been frozen since December 2006 to punish the Turks for not opening their ports and airports to the Greek. Cypriot republic part of Cyprus. • Cyprus, divided since the Greek-backed coup and Turkish invasion of 1974. • Cyprus settlement is thus essential if Turkey is to have any hope of progress towards the EU. • Fun Fact Cyprus is a part of the EU not NATO and Vise Versa is true for Turkey.

Problems with Greece • Greece and Turkey have been in 4 major wars with each other. • Greco-Turkish War in 1897, First Balkan War 1912, WWI, and the Turkish War of Independence. • Occupation of Northern Cyprus by Turkey in 1974. • Main Problem now is over Cyprus • Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Proclaimed in 1983, recognized only by Turkey. Turkish army is heavily prevalent here. • Resolution has been very unsuccessful. • Greece has been a member of the EU since 1981

Armenia and Turkey • Armenia requires Turkey to acknowledge the genocide that took place in 1915. • 1. 5 million Armenians died in this Mass killing during WWI • The PM does not believe they have to appologize, and in 2011 ordered the tearing-down of a Turkish-Armenian friendship monument in Kars.

Recent Protests • May and June 2013 saw protests against what large sections of the Turkish public perceive as a growing authoritarianism of Erdogan, his government and his policies. • Started from a small sit-in in Istanbul in defense of a city park. • The police's intense reaction with burning down the tents of the demonstrators led the protests to spread all over Turkey. • After the demonstrations began, the police continued with immense amounts of tear gas and water cannons to control and clear the demonstrations. • The EU has Issue with how the protests were handled by the government.

The European Union

Turkey, a brief history • After the Ottoman Empire's collapse following World War I, Turkish revolutionaries led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk emerged victorious in the Turkish War of Independence, establishing the modern Turkish Republic as it exists today. • Mustafa Kemal Atatürk became president and wanted to “Europeanize” or Westernize Turkey • During WWII Turkey joined sides with the Allies and in 1949 Turkey was one of the first countries to become a member of the Council of Europe. • Became a member of NATO in 1952, during the cold war they sided with U. S. and Western Europe. • In 1963 the country became an associate member of the European Union.

Continued. • Finally on April 14, 1987 Turkey made its application to accede to the European Union • Turkey signed a Customs Union agreement in 1995 with the EU, and was officially recognized as a candidate for full membership December 12, 1999 • Negotiations were started on 3 October 2005, and the process is likely to take more than a decade to complete. • On 12 September 1963 leaders of the European Economic Community and Turkey met in Ankara. They signed the Ankara Agreement - with the objective “to promote the continuous and balanced strengthening of trade and economic relations between the Parties. ” • 50 years this month of this process to become a member so far.

Issues with Turkey becoming “European” • EU Claims eventual membership but citing Turkey’s economic and political situation, as well its poor relations with Greece and the conflict with Cyprus. • During the 1990 s, Turkey proceeded with a closer integration with the European Union by agreeing to a customs union in 1995. • The Helsinki European Council of 1999 milestone as the EU recognized Turkey as a candidate on equal footing with other potential candidates. • Negotiations keep getting staled due to domestic and external problems. • More setbacks came when negotiations again halted in December 2006, with the EU freezing talks in 8 of the 35 key areas under negotiation. • In December 2009, the Republic of Cyprus blocked 6 more chapters of Turkish accession negotiations, including those on Judiciary and Fundamental Rights, Energy and Education and Culture, arguing that Turkey need to first normalize relations with Cyprus. As a result, no chapter have been opened since June 2010.

Recent Issues • On 20 June 2013, in the wake of the crackdown on mass demonstrations in Taksim Square, Germany blocked the start to new EU accession talks with Turkey. • Problems with how they conduct themselves with the freedom of expression and human rights, also they have issue with the use of excessive force. • A main issue is about conflicting views of what the EU should become. After Slovenia, Croatia is the second country from ex-Yugoslavia to join the EU. The European perspective remains open to the entire Western Balkans region. • Germany is opposed, but has opted for a “privileged partnership” instead, similar to that of Norway. • EU member states must unanimously agree on Turkey's membership for the Turkish accession to be successful. • In December 2011, a poll showed that close to 71% of the participants surveyed in Austria, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the UK were opposed to Turkey's membership in the European Union.

Benefits FOR the EU if they allow membership • Turkey has a relatively large economy, and is the second largest military force in NATO • Strategic Interest in the location of Turkey for the EU • Could allow easy transport of oil from the Caspian Sea Basin to the rest of Europe, via pipeline. • Picture of a busy market where over 3 million people visit on a weekend day. Istiklal Avenue, Istanbul

Picture on left of the path oil pipeline could take. Passes through Turkey up to Germany. Picture on left of high speed railway. These could help improve trade and commerce between EU and Turkey.

Benefits to Turkey • Expects to receive economic development aide similar to that given to Ireland, Greece, Spain and Portugal. • Hope for increased European and foreign investments. • Free Movement of people across the EU. • The large population would give Turkey a large representation in European Parliament.

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