BY FERAI TINC
HURRIYET- Columnist Ferai Tinc comments on the prospect of Turkey’s full European Union membership. A summary of her column is as follows:
In recent days the European Union seems to have started serious discussions about Turkey. EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen brought up the date for Turkey’s full membership during the last EU Partnership Council meeting. It’s no coincidence that during the April 14 session, Verheugen said that if Turkey meets the Copenhagen criteria by the end of next year and make progress concerning the Cyprus issue, our membership negotiations will start in the second half of 2005, putting us a track to possibly become an EU member in 2011 or 2012. We should recognize that Verheugen’s statement was no mere personal opinion; instead, it reflects Brussels’ own view. In other words, Brussels has for the first time ventured a date for Turkey. This isn’t a guarantee but rather a declaration of intent. In order to understand this better, we should remember two speeches made by EU Commission President Romano Prodi over the last month or so.
Prodi opened the issue of the EU’s strategy towards its neighbors on March 18, proclaiming that Europe cannot enlarge forever and so it needed a firm policy towards the countries on its borders. Prodi also listed the countries that could follow the 10 new members into the Union’s ranks, adding, ‘These countries will be the western Balkan countries. Of course this process won’t continue forever.’ So Prodi’s speech effectively set Europe’s eastern border at the edge of the western Balkans, and Turkey wasn’t mentioned in this statement.
Speaking to Italian daily La Repubblica just a month later, on April 19, Prodi said, ‘Only a large, united Europe can create a balance against the power of the United States.’ In addition, when he was listing the future EU members, he mentioned Turkey’s name. ‘Now Bulgaria and Romania are advancing rapidly in order to become full EU members in 2007,’ he said. ‘The EU might open its doors to Turkey, the former Yugoslavian republics and Albania as well.’
Since the war in Iraq, Europe has started to consider the Turkish issue more seriously. However, no result will be forthcoming unless Turkey takes determined steps. As Verheugen said, a decision on our negotiations should be made next year at the latest so Turkey can become a full member in 2012. However, as of now developments aren’t moving this way. Turkey shouldn’t waste even a minute in making arrangements and carrying out the Copenhagen criteria. Right now, however, we are faced by the incredible prospect of our Secretariat for EU Affairs, the liaison between Turkey and the Union, being closed.

SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION