Is The E.U. Ready?

MILLIYET- Columnist Sami Kohen comments on the Copenhagen summit starting today. A summary of his column is as follows:
Finally, we’ve reached the big day… Turkey has been dealing with the issue of the Copenhagen summit for weeks, even months. We’ve put forth extraordinary efforts to prove that we’re ready to start the process of European Union membership. Turkey has been anxiously waiting for today, when the EU will make a decision. This decision will direct not only our future, but also theirs. This issue belongs not only to us, but also to the EU, because the issue of Turkey has been on the top of the EU’s agenda. Just like us, the EU has been anticipating the Copenhagen summit. The difference between our two sides is that we know what we want, and we’re determined and speak openly. As for them, however, they don’t know what they want, they’re indecisive and they seem unable to speak clearly. This is the situation up to now. We will see how they will behave today.
Up to now, Turkey has never had a moment of hesitation or doubt in terms of its goal of uniting with the European world, that is to say, for fully 40 years. Nor is it having any now. However, the EU has consistently stumbled concerning the issue of opening its doors to Turkey, and it continues to do so. The leaders of the 15 countries will gather together in Copenhagen to consider this question: ‘What would we lose, and what would we gain, if we give Turkey a date in the way it wants?’ Actually ‘giving a date or not’ reflects the disagreement. This problem will be solved in Copenhagen with a diplomatic formula. However, the problem won’t be solved completely with a face-saving decision that both satisfies Turkey and relieves the EU. The important thing is that at Copenhagen, the discussions on giving Turkey a place within the EU or not will result in the victory of those who support Turkey’s place within the Union. If this doesn’t happen, there might be those who will try to hinder this process using various pretexts.
Of course Turkey’s membership will create more problems than that of some other candidates (and new members) within the EU. Due to various factors such as our large population, sensitive geography, economic difficulties, cultural differences, etc., it would be difficult to integrate Turkey in one fell swoop. The rich, established EU members will have to make sacrifices. However, those who describe this as an obstacle should also take the profits of Turkey’s membership into consideration. The number of European leaders who have grasped and are discussing this grows with each passing day. For some of them, the EU will have a broader and more effective role with Turkey, which has a strategic importance. For some of them, rapprochement with Turkey will send a positive signal to the Islamic world and will help smooth relations between civilizations. For some of them, it would help to solve the Cyprus problem and pave the way for more rapprochement between Greece and Turkey. These are all important. However, the critical thing for the EU is the following question: Does the EU want to remain a homogeneous and also static community, or does it prefer to give itself a new identity and a dynamic mission? As the Guardian daily recently wrote, ‘The Europe of the 21st century should unite around a common vision. There’s no reason for it not to share this with Turkey.’ We will understand today if the EU is ready for this.

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