Jaká je budoucnost EU, specielně po přijetí Turecka? – anglicky

Essay – What is the future of the EU, especially with the inclusion of Turkey?

Recently the most discussed subject in connection with the European Union is her enlargement. Is concerned Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia and Turkey. On 17 October 2006 the Council officially approved of Bulgaria and Romania joining the EU on 1 January 2007. On 3 October 2005, the EU agreed to formally open membership talks with Croatia. The screening process started on 20 October 2005. Croatia expects to join the EU as a full member in 2009. On 3 October 2005, membership negotiations were symbolically opened with Turkey and on 12 June 2006 the examination and assessment of the acquis communautaire began. Nevertheless, stumbling blocks remain on the road to Turkey’s accession. In particular, these are the issue, of Turkey opening its ports and airports to vessels from Cyprus, freedom of expression, especially court cases against writers and journalists, as well as Kurdish minority rights.

The negotiation process with Turkey is said to be “open-ended”. Negotiations are expected to take approximately ten years. Germany, which will hold the EU Presidency from 1 January 2007, is critical of Turkish EU-membership. Christian Democrat leader Angela Merkel says, „accession one-way streets.“ Turkey must fulfil the criteria. Her governing Christian-Democrat party rejects Turkish membership and wants to offer a “privileged partnership” instead of Turkish membership.

There are a lot of different views and arguments that surround Turkey’s projected accession revolve around a series of issues, ranging from demographic through geographic to political. We for example debate whether it is possible to establish geographic borders for Europe, and whether Turkey ‚fits‘ within these borders. We also speak about the cultural and religious differences, Turkey’s human rights or about the freedom of speech in Turkey. For the US, Turkey’s EU membership would create a stable role model for the whole Islamic world.

In my opinion the enlargement process is helping to keep stable some of the most volatile parts of Europe – such as the Balkans or Turkey – and delivering practical results in political and economic reforms in the aspirant countries. It is much better to export stability to the Western Balkans through the enlargement process than to import instability in the shape of refugees and criminal activities. Enlargement policy should not be held hostage to a theological debate about the ideal shape of the perfect Union, or the final borders of Europe.

Enlargement has strong democratic legitimacy. Remember that nineteen of the 25 member-states were once enlargement countries, and every accession is agreed unanimously by all the member states and with the assent of the European Parliament. And a majority of EU citizens still support further enlargement.