BY MUHSIN ABAY
TURKIYE- Turkey must be resolute in its efforts to join the ranks of the European Union and our government must not deviate from its goals towards this end, no matter what happens. I have little hope for the efficacy of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent warning to Brussels, which underlined that if the EU applies double standards or hinders our negotiations, Turkey will continue on its own by considering EU criteria as if they were Ankara’s own principles and standards. The European Union is an unprecedented experience, as a superior structure made up of independent nation states coming together under a common roof. But it goes even beyond that. Each member state is obliged to adopt its national legislation to the EU acquis. Their parliaments, state institutions and courts willingly waive some of their rights and authorities and become subject to EU regulations. This is followed by the emergence of economic and social synergies, whose combined effect is greater than the sum of their parts. The ultimate goal of the Union is to become more democratic, transparent and effective. However, Europe’s economic, institutional and identity weaknesses and problems remain unsolved. Today, Europe’s growth rate is slow and its unemployment is rising. The European Constitution is in the process of being voted on. Lithuania, Slovenia and Hungary have approved it and Spain held a referendum before giving its approval. France is also expected to hold a referendum on the issue, which will be a critical event especially for our membership bid. Danish Premier Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that his country would withdraw from the Union if France rejects the Constitution. However, the possibility of the latter is higher than we’d like. Those who believe that Europe has natural geographical borders don’t want it to go beyond the Balkans. Those who believe that the Union must be a Christian club are even more conservative. These people want neither Turks nor Muslim Albanians and Bosnians in their community. I wish that the ideal of a more democratic, transparent, effective and powerful Europe wasn’t a dream, a mere fairy tale!”