By Elinor Blair - 14th December 2004
MEPs are heatedly debating EU Turkish membership in the European Parliament this week.
Days before the final decision at the Brussels summit on whether to open negotiation talks, MEPs have voiced their concerns about letting Ankara in as a full member of the EU club.
The house remains divided between those who believe Turkey should become a full member, should retain a “privileged partnership” with the EU or should remain completely outside the EU.
At a plenary debate on Monday night, voices of approval and dissent in the European Parliament did not appear to follow national or party lines.
Socialist leader Martin Schulz argued for Turkish membership saying that it would allow “western values to be anchored in Turkish society.”
Fellow socialist Klaus Hansch urged caution: “we underestimate problems [with Turkish accession] and overestimate our capacity.”
Italian former commissioner and liberal MEP Emma Bonino remained fully in favour of allowing the country to join as a full member.
She said that the debate was not just about Turkey, but about the EU itself, and asked the EU “not to close itself off.”
Joost Lagendijk chair of parliament’s delegation with Turkey also spoke in favour of full membership – but said that more must be done on the country’s violations of human rights.
“Democracy and Islamism can go together” he told the plenary, “Turkey can show that it can be done.”
Also in favour of accession was British right winger Geoffrey van Orden pointing out the country had been a “staunch ally” of NATO for 50 years.
Chair of the foreign affairs committee Elmar Brok argued the “EU is ready and strong enough to expand.”
“Let’s assume the burden of our own political decision,” he said.
Outside the Parliament debate continues to rage in the member states over the country’s suitability for accession.
Earlier in the week, Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan told journalists in Ankara: “No other country has had to wait for 41 years at Europe’s door.
"We have fulfilled all the criteria but despite this Europeans are still hesitating.”
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