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European Union

Turkey Threatens to Abandon EU Membership Bid over Unacceptable Conditions

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned that his country will abandon its 40-year dream of joining the European Union if it is presented with unacceptable conditions by EU leaders. The statement comes as the European Parliament voted to let Turkey join the EU, and EU leaders are set to approve starting entry talks with Turkey tonight. However, the talks are expected to include a series of conditions to appease member states' deep misgivings about letting a large, poor, Muslim, and mainly Asian country become the biggest member of the Union.

Key Takeaways:

  • Turkey is threatening to abandon its EU membership bid if it is presented with unacceptable conditions, including a "permanent" safeguard against Turkish immigration to Western Europe and a possible "privileged partnership" instead of full membership.
  • The EU leaders are set to include a series of conditions to appease member states' deep misgivings about letting Turkey join, including a ban on Turkish immigration to Western Europe.
  • The European Parliament voted to let Turkey join the EU, with 407 votes to 262, and the EU leaders are expected to approve starting entry talks with Turkey tonight.
  • The talks are expected to last ten years and may only lead to a "privileged partnership" instead of full membership.
  • Turkey's Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has said that his country can modernize without the EU, and the Turkish Foreign Minister, Abdullah Gul, has said that Turkey will not accept any injustice.
  • The threat to abandon the EU membership bid is likely to cause annoyance with more sceptical EU leaders, who feel that Turkey is trying to bully its way into the EU.

Statistics:

  • 40 years: The length of time Turkey has been dreaming of joining the European Union.
  • 407: The number of votes in favor of letting Turkey join the EU in a non-binding motion passed by the European Parliament.
  • 262: The number of votes against letting Turkey join the EU in the same motion.
  • 10 years: The length of time the entry talks with Turkey are expected to last.
  • 1915: The year in which Turkey committed genocide against the Armenians.
  • 1952: The year Turkey joined NATO.
  • 1963: The year Turkey signed its first "association agreement" with the European Economic Community.
  • 1980-1986: The period during which Turkey's association agreement with the EU was suspended after a military coup.
  • 1987: The year Turkey formally applied for EU membership.

Sources:

  • "The Times" article from December 16, 2004.
  • The European Parliament.
  • The European Union.
  • The Turkish Prime Minister's office.
  • The Turkish Foreign Minister's office.
  • The Austrian Chancellor's office.
  • The British Foreign Secretary's office.

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