It was also unclear at that time whether Turkey wanted to be a part of the European integration process or whether it wanted to remain on the sidelines. In 1997 the EU judged that Turkey was not fulfilling the candidacy criteria and thus Turkey was not admitted among the other candidate countries. Turkey was furious. The same EU judged in 1999 that the same Turkey was capable of becoming a candidate, even though no reform had been made over the two years. Turkey was shocked.The two parties, who have never seen each other in a full membership perspective, have started to question their 50-year-long relationship more carefully. Turkey has noticed that membership was impossible without doing its homework and has shown its real intention to become a member. Europe indicated that this kind of intention could some day lead to real membership. Europe’s concern has grown as Turkey has approached the EU. The recognition of candidate status and the beginning of negotiations were influenced by this conjuncture. The main question for the EU now is whether Turkey will become a full member if all the criteria are met. Negotiations were already launched, that is why EU could say only that the end of these is unknown and that Turkey will be a close partner even if full membership is not realized. As it was not ethical to discuss more on this issue at this point, Brussels preferred to leave this question to the member states.
As member states had the chance to point out their respective views, two essential members of the EU have began to make several declarations. The first “best plan” is to make Turkey ask for a privileged relationship. French presidential candidate Nicolas Sarkozy wants to realize a privileged partnership, even without Turkey’s consent. As he is also the interior minister of France, we can say that it is his government’s perspective. France is encouraged in this by Germany’s attitude. Sarkozy says that Turkey has no place in Europe because the Turks are not Europeans. But he does not want Turkey to turn its back on the European process and become a source of instability at their doorstep, which is why he is preparing propositions such as the “Mediterranean Union.” It is still unknown what that means as the parameters of partnership with Turkey are not defined at all. What is clear is that he does not want Turkey.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel does not think of Turkey as an EU member either and, like Sarkozy, she wants to pursue relations. She is not explicit about what is proposed to Turkey. She says that Turkey-EU relations will be better in 50 years’ time. She is not capable of predictions on the EU in 50 years, but apparently she knows what will happen to Turkey and the world. Perhaps her motives are as follows: “I won’t exist in 50 years’ time, so my successors will have to deal with it,” or “the EU will not exist in 50 years anyway, so let’s save today,” or even “let’s wait until after the elections in France, then we’ll see.”
It is not always easy to understand politicians. Merkel always talks the about Christian and Roman roots of Europe in order to imply that Turkey does not belong in the EU. She knows some history, geography or sociology, but she prefers to forget some parts of it. The whole world watches Merkel. It is not like she is trying to deepen Europe’s internal fissures in order to put the EU out of the global power struggle, is she?
