Sign in Subscribe
European Union

Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan Visits France Amid EU Membership Uncertainty

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan began a three-day visit to France on Monday, focusing on promoting Turkey's European Union membership and discussing economic ties between the two countries. The visit comes ahead of a December deadline when the EU will decide whether to initiate membership discussions with Ankara. Despite initial support from French leftist parties, concerns about Turkey's membership persist among French conservatives, who question its geographic and cultural alignment with Europe and its commitment to democracy and human rights.

Key Takeaways:

  • Erdogan's visit aims to address concerns about Turkey's EU membership, particularly among French conservatives, who question its cultural and geographic alignment with Europe.
  • Turkey's European Union membership is a contentious issue, with some French politicians, including Valery Giscard-d'Estaing, expressing opposition to the idea of Turkey joining the EU.
  • Critics of Turkey's membership have labeled the EU as a "Christian club" and have accused Erdogan's government of not doing enough to foster democracy and human rights.
  • Despite concerns, Erdogan's government has implemented ambitious political and economic reforms, which have been recognized by observers in France and elsewhere.
  • France is Turkey's second-largest trading partner, with commercial exchanges totaling over $7.4 billion in 2004.
  • The Turkish delegation includes business leaders who are negotiating potential deals with French companies, including a possible commission for Airbus to build 40 aircraft for Turkish Airlines.
  • Erdogan will meet with French President Jacques Chirac on Tuesday to discuss economic ties and EU membership.

Statistics:

  • $7.4 billion: The reported total of commercial exchanges between France and Turkey in 2004.
  • 40: The number of aircraft that Turkey's national airlines may order from Airbus.
  • 25: The number of member states in the European Union that will decide on the possibility of starting membership discussions with Ankara by December.
  • 700 million: The approximate number of Muslims living in Europe, according to conservative estimates.
  • 70 million: The number of Muslims living in Turkey.
  • 2004: The year in which commercial exchanges between France and Turkey totaled over $7.4 billion.

Sources:

  • Paris, July 19 (UPI) -- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan began a three-day visit to France Monday, aimed at selling Turkey's eventual European Union membership to skeptical French politicians, and at discussing business and trade ties between the two countries.
  • UMP's former head, Alain Juppe, once said: "The problem of Turkey (and it's membership to the European Union) is not an issue, It won't be an issue for many years to come."
  • French Liberation newspaper.
  • Valery Giscard-d'Estaing, former French president, famously declared that Turkey's membership to the EU "would be the end of Europe."
  • Turkey's national airlines may offer Europe's Airbus industry a lucrative commission to build 40 aircraft, according to Le Figaro newspaper.

Read more