There are also many politicians who use anti-Turkish sentiments in their countries as a political tool. However, Turkey’s slowness in implementing reforms has also contributed to this negative atmosphere to a great extent. Turkish public opinion has nearly forgotten that EU membership was one of Turkey’s foreign policy goals; on the other hand, politicians don’t emphasize that the proposed constitutional amendments would accelerate Turkey’s membership process. Those who oppose the amendments are well aware that they are blocking Turkey’s EU bid, and they label all legal and constitutional reform initiatives an “imperialist trick.” Maybe that’s why the government chooses not to talk about the EU too much in order not to provoke nationalists.Nevertheless, even though the package has gone to a referendum, EU-Turkey relations will follow their natural course, despite the outcome. One would believe that a general election campaign is on its way, and not a referendum which has the possibility to reinforce civil liberties. The campaigning has clearly shown that some politicians want an introverted Turkey instead of a country that will increase its influence in different parts of the world. Nevertheless, the majority of people are aware of what is at stake, and that’s why they care about the overall meaning of this reform project more than the details of the amendments. The EU-Turkey relationship will follow its course because society is in need of more stability, democracy and economic development.
Another factor which will affect the course of Turkey-EU relations will be the EU countries’ revision of their global positions. The EU has begun to realize that one of the reasons for their current economic and social crisis is their “absence” in Central Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the Far East. Even though there are still countries that would prefer to leave things as they are rather than cooperate with Turkey, there are now other EU countries, such as the UK, that are trying to change this attitude towards Turkey.
Following the elections, the UK promptly announced that its foreign policy has entered a new period; the main objective is to re-establish the country’s clout on a global level. While trying to assure this, the UK has made it clear that it also wants to carry the EU to the global stage. We are ignoring whether or not this makes France and Germany happy, but the UK has already started to pursue its new foreign policy approach.
Thus, Turkey has become, once again, one of the main indicators of Britain’s foreign policy approach. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who happens to be British, has also done her bit by recently criticizing some EU countries for ignoring Turkey. She announced that the EU backs the constitutional amendments that will reinforce Turkish democracy which is, according to her, important for the EU’s future. She has also mentioned Turkey’s global and regional importance more than once. Her messages were definitely directed at other EU countries rather than Turkey.
More recently, the UK has revised the strategic partnership document between Turkey and the UK. The next step will probably concern the acceleration of EU membership talks. Let us hope that all these efforts accelerate Turkey’s membership process, and not the debate on establishing a relationship between Turkey and the EU that is anything but full EU membership. And let’s hope that other EU member countries keep up with the UK.
