BY OSMAN ULAGAY
MILLIYET- During the first two years of the Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) rule, I was one of those who favored their policy on integration with Europe, mainly because I used to think that EU membership was the best option for Turkey. Besides, I didn’t really believe the government could come up with a better policy and long-term objective on its own. I used to think that the EU might think big and welcome us into the Union for the sake of becoming a global power.
Sure enough, the AKP hasn’t worked up any national objective other than EU membership. But I was mistaken in thinking that the EU’s decision on Turkey’s membership would be positive. Apparently, a large number of Europeans don’t want us within the Union.
A recent public opinion poll in France revealed that 54 percent of the French plan to vote no in the approaching referendum on the European Constitution. France’s rejection of the Constitution will probably cause a crisis large enough to threaten the Union’s future. But strangely enough, this hasn’t yet created an air of panic among the EU members. Miracles have happened time and time again during the Union’s formation process, so maybe the Europeans are again expecting another.
In a recent article entitled ‘The EU Isn’t Ready For a French No,’ Financial Times editor Wolfgang Munchau argues that a crisis among EU countries over the Constitution will certainly result in the postponement of Turkey and Croatia’s membership talks. In this case, Turkey could wait another 50 years for EU membership.
In an era when the members of the EU can’t resolve their own economic and political disputes, it’s risky to consider integration with the EU our sole aim. We’d do better to keep our sights on the EU, but prepare for the worst.