Will the EU keep its promise this time?
Hopefully, the Nov. 29 EU-Turkey Summit will mark the start of a new period. We say "hopefully," because EU-Turkey relations do not have a very bright history. Citizens of both Turkey and Northern Cyprus have been in the position of addressee to promises that were not kept and signed agreements that were not implemented. Turkey is an EU candidate whose membership has been hindered by the EU for 56 years. Of course, within the course of those 56 years, Turkey has wrestled with many domestic problems that hampered its EU membership. But the country has been subjected to injustices by the EU even though since 2002 it has been much more advanced than many EU countries in terms of the Copenhagen and Maastricht criteria.
The Customs Union agreement signed with the hope of paving the way for EU membership actually functioned in favor of the EU in many commercial aspects while weighing against Turkey. Citizens of the Turkish Republic visit EU countries after being exposed to discrimination due to the visa requirements. While the Annan Plan, which was expected to reconcile Cyprus, was approved by the vast majority among Turkish Cypriots, but the Greek Cypriots refused the plan with an overwhelming majority. However, the EU rewarded Greek Cypriots by going against its own promises. The Greek Cypriots, who refused the introduction of peace and resolution on the island, became an EU member, while the Turkish Cypriots looking for peace and resolution still have to live under embargos.
So, how can Turkey trust in the EU given that the EU routinely breaks its promises and does not implement the signed agreements?
If a public survey was conducted in Turkey and people were asked whether they want Turkey to be an EU member, at least 60 percent would say "yes."
But if it is asked whether they believe that the EU would accept Turkey as a member, at least 70 percent would say "no."
This is the outcome of 56 years of EU-Turkey relations: A lack of trust in the EU.
Despite that, Turkish citizens regard the decisions taken at the EU-Turkey Summit on Nov. 29 as a positive development. "This (EU-Turkey Summit) is a historic day and a historic meeting. After 11 years, a summit has been conducted with Turkey," Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said. He is sure that the majority of the Turkish public backs him up in this regard.
The joint declaration they agreed upon at the summit is clear. The steps toward Turkey's EU membership will be intensified. Opening new chapters is planned, with the 17th chapter the first to open up. Summit meetings will be organized twice a year in accordance with this aim. Turkish citizens will be exempt from visa requirements from October 2016, parallel to the "Turkey-EU Readmission Agreement" that will enter into force in June 2016. In 2016, significant steps will be taken in economic cooperation (High Level Economic Dialogue Mechanism) and energy (Strategic Energy Cooperation). The Customs Union agreement will also be updated.
All these steps sound positive so far. Even though Turkey has so far spent above $8 billion on refugees, the 3 billion euros given to Turkey is meaningful. Turkey is not a very wealthy country, so this fund, which will only be spent on refugees, will certainly be helpful.
But a problem emerges at this very point.
Will the EU keep its promises this time?
A group of EU countries who were formerly in the Warsaw Treaty Organization have adopted a negative stance toward refugees heading to the EU and toward the issue of 3 billion euros in funding. Even though German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned them over their stance, it seems that this warning did not work. The EU is likely to have a difficulty in collecting the 3 billion euros it promised. We will see.
Besides, it would be useful for the EU to lends an ear to Turkey on the matter of resolving the refugee issue. This issue cannot be resolved only through money.
The EU, which has remained indifferent to Turkey's warnings over recent years, has to change this attitude, as well. The number of refugees is constantly increasing due to the state terror of Syrian dictator Bashar Assad, supported by Russia, Iran and Hezbollah and it is quite clear that Assad is not fighting DAESH. In Syria, Assad and various terrorist groups, namely DAESH, the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the PKK, and Russian aircrafts backing up Assad force an ever-growing number of people to leave Syria. The EU should carefully evaluate Turkey's suggestions on the subject. Now, it is the turn of the EU to do something after the EU-Turkey Summit.
Turkey is doing its part. In Cyprus, Turkish Cypriots are endeavoring to introduce peace and reconciliation. This might be the last chance for peace in Cyprus. Reconciliation in Cyprus is no longer a dream, the Greeks just need to say "yes."
In Turkey and Northern Cyprus, people are now expecting the EU to keep its promises and implement the decisions it has taken. It must be noted that they cannot tolerate another deceit.
For the last time, we say "hopefully."
The Customs Union agreement signed with the hope of paving the way for EU membership actually functioned in favor of the EU in many commercial aspects while weighing against Turkey. Citizens of the Turkish Republic visit EU countries after being exposed to discrimination due to the visa requirements. While the Annan Plan, which was expected to reconcile Cyprus, was approved by the vast majority among Turkish Cypriots, but the Greek Cypriots refused the plan with an overwhelming majority. However, the EU rewarded Greek Cypriots by going against its own promises. The Greek Cypriots, who refused the introduction of peace and resolution on the island, became an EU member, while the Turkish Cypriots looking for peace and resolution still have to live under embargos.
So, how can Turkey trust in the EU given that the EU routinely breaks its promises and does not implement the signed agreements?
If a public survey was conducted in Turkey and people were asked whether they want Turkey to be an EU member, at least 60 percent would say "yes."
But if it is asked whether they believe that the EU would accept Turkey as a member, at least 70 percent would say "no."
This is the outcome of 56 years of EU-Turkey relations: A lack of trust in the EU.
Despite that, Turkish citizens regard the decisions taken at the EU-Turkey Summit on Nov. 29 as a positive development. "This (EU-Turkey Summit) is a historic day and a historic meeting. After 11 years, a summit has been conducted with Turkey," Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said. He is sure that the majority of the Turkish public backs him up in this regard.
The joint declaration they agreed upon at the summit is clear. The steps toward Turkey's EU membership will be intensified. Opening new chapters is planned, with the 17th chapter the first to open up. Summit meetings will be organized twice a year in accordance with this aim. Turkish citizens will be exempt from visa requirements from October 2016, parallel to the "Turkey-EU Readmission Agreement" that will enter into force in June 2016. In 2016, significant steps will be taken in economic cooperation (High Level Economic Dialogue Mechanism) and energy (Strategic Energy Cooperation). The Customs Union agreement will also be updated.
All these steps sound positive so far. Even though Turkey has so far spent above $8 billion on refugees, the 3 billion euros given to Turkey is meaningful. Turkey is not a very wealthy country, so this fund, which will only be spent on refugees, will certainly be helpful.
But a problem emerges at this very point.
Will the EU keep its promises this time?
A group of EU countries who were formerly in the Warsaw Treaty Organization have adopted a negative stance toward refugees heading to the EU and toward the issue of 3 billion euros in funding. Even though German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned them over their stance, it seems that this warning did not work. The EU is likely to have a difficulty in collecting the 3 billion euros it promised. We will see.
Besides, it would be useful for the EU to lends an ear to Turkey on the matter of resolving the refugee issue. This issue cannot be resolved only through money.
The EU, which has remained indifferent to Turkey's warnings over recent years, has to change this attitude, as well. The number of refugees is constantly increasing due to the state terror of Syrian dictator Bashar Assad, supported by Russia, Iran and Hezbollah and it is quite clear that Assad is not fighting DAESH. In Syria, Assad and various terrorist groups, namely DAESH, the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the PKK, and Russian aircrafts backing up Assad force an ever-growing number of people to leave Syria. The EU should carefully evaluate Turkey's suggestions on the subject. Now, it is the turn of the EU to do something after the EU-Turkey Summit.
Turkey is doing its part. In Cyprus, Turkish Cypriots are endeavoring to introduce peace and reconciliation. This might be the last chance for peace in Cyprus. Reconciliation in Cyprus is no longer a dream, the Greeks just need to say "yes."
In Turkey and Northern Cyprus, people are now expecting the EU to keep its promises and implement the decisions it has taken. It must be noted that they cannot tolerate another deceit.
For the last time, we say "hopefully."