Can EU become a global player without Turkey?
As the world expects to go through another global crisis a few countries like China, Brasil, India and Turkey seem to be safer markets for investors.
Indeed, Turkey for instance has had a bright past two year performance taking into consideration the gigantic financial problems countries like Greece have had to challenge, especially.
Despite the promising efficiency of Turkey the question has always been if Turkey should be accepted into EU and if yes would this bring along some negative and even unbearable burdens to the community.
Some have been sticking to the opinion Turkey is not ready to join the community and nor is the community to accept Turkey for various reasons such as the improvement Turkey has to go through as far as legal adaptations etc are concerned as well as for economical and social reasons.
Looking at it from an objective point of view it would not be fair not to agree to some of those arguments. Yes, Turkey does need some more time to be fully ready for the EU.
Certainly one could think at this point; “Were Poland, Bulgaria, Romania and similar new members which have just joined the community in a better situation (more ready) than Turkey, to be accepted by the Union?”.
The answer is certainly a BIG NO, meaning the community (unluckily) did not avoid double-standards by accepting those countries which were in no way ready to be part of EU.
.. and the most important question at this point is;
“Why did the EU not avoid such double-standard and UNFAIR treatment?”.
Coming back to Turkey, there is something the EU should not ignore, for the sake of the community more than the sake of Turkey; Because we are talking about a country here with an unparalleled, enormously active/energetic young population which in return brings about the fact it is thus a big market for consumption.. meaning it has an economy that should definitely (and as of first priority) be taken into consideration.
If Turkey were lost to competitor blocs such as the one formed by China, Russia and India, it could and would be a deadly mistake for the EU. The reason being the bloc would have just given up on such a giant economy that would otherwise bring “life” to the economy of the bloc.
The “argument” that it would be to Turkey’s disadvantage to be out of the EU bloc would really be a fairy-tale as we all know by now “HOW STRONG” China is coming on its own – leave alone India and Russia which have started to be key players in the global economy, as well.
The conclusion is; Yes Turkey might sacrifice on somethings without the EU, whereas it could enjoy even more benefits and advantages with the support of China, India and Russia.
So it is really for the EU to see to it that Turkey one way or the other is not lost to the competitor bloc rather than Turkey killing itself begging at the doorstep of to be granted the privilege of stepping into the EU.
18 November 2011
Editor, BUSINESS TURKEY TODAY
