STAR- Columnist Semih Idiz writes on the recent discussions over Turkey’s EU membership bid. A summary of his column is as follows:
One benefit of recent developments is that the facts about the EU are coming out into the open one by one. Today it is being said that no one should hold high hopes in vain. ‘Our EU membership lies 20 years in the future. Free circulation will be postponed for 10 years even if we become a member.’ This is the new trump card of Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Bahceli. However, this isn’t a new message. This is an argument those opposing the EU have been strongly defending for weeks. Certainly, we may not be a member before 2010. There are gigantic political and economic hurdles Turkey has to overcome. However, the lateness of the date has nothing to do with the EU, rather it lies with us. The postponement of free circulation is not indexed only to Turkey. Today, Germany is trying to obstruct the recognition of this right, thinking of the unemployed who would be flowing into the country from Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic, which are closer to membership than us. It seems that it will succeed in doing this. These countries, even if they become members, will wait for 10 years for the right of free circulation to be granted. The basic argument put forth by the opposition front is, ‘A great majority of the people would like to be admitted to the EU because they see it as an opportunity for earning a living. But if they knew the truth, they would not want to be admitted’. If so, why did the Irish, Portuguese and Greeks want membership for? Did they just want to be accepted into an elite club? They wanted to elevate their standard of living, but did not achieve it by flowing into Germany or Sweden. The standard of prosperity in these countries began to rise even without being admitted into the EU. Internal and foreign investments increased with the membership process. In other words, the benefits of the EU began to be seen even during the membership process. If membership means the strengthening of economic stability, the membership process means steps taken towards this goal. If we are to use Bahceli’s metaphor, certainly EU membership is not the key to heaven. The increase in the rate of prosperity will not come out of nowhere. On the contrary, Turkey has to work harder than ever to compete with equals both during the membership process and as a member. Admittance to the EU is not an end. We have to display an excellent performance. Bahceli’s words are true in that sense. This should be clearly explained to the Turkish people. However, even though he may be right in essence, Mr. Bahceli has other aims in saying so. He wants to say that Turkey doesn’t have to take any steps for growth, development or on the road to civilization, whether we have to enter the EU or not. Some of us seem to have fallen for the argument that we are not taking these measures for our people, but for the love of the EU. There are at least 20 years before our membership to the EU. Free circulation is nothing but a pipe dream they say. Let us protect the status quo. True, this leads the country nowhere, but at least it is our status quo. As the Irish say ‘Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.’ The world may advance as much as it likes. Nobody loves us. Let us stay alone with our own devil ... Certainly the facts on the issue must be clearly explained to the public. After the essence of the issue has been clearly laid out for the public, their opinion should be asked. The best way to get this is a referendum. This is the only logical solution. The Social Democratic People’s Party (SHP) issued a statement on the issue yesterday advocating this opinion. Many EU countries held referendums before becoming a member. It is not surprising that the party which is strongly opposed to a referendum on the issue is the MHP, as it has doubts regarding the outcome of such referendum in the face of the polls published on the issue. The MHP doesn’t want a referendum on the EU because it doesn’t trust the people. Otherwise, it would have been the first party to call for a referendum on such a vital issue. However, if a referendum is not held, the next elections will have the nature of a referendum for EU membership bid. Anyway the people must be consulted on the EU issue. The number of those who want the people to be asked is increasing with each passing day.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION