Should we allow Turkeys accession to the E.U?

[ephenry]

Well.......

[KeithM]

Yes, (if only to piss off the French).

[Rebelman]

Why not - we already have plent Sheep, Cows and Chickens !!

[Halibut]

Depends how you view the EU. I regard it as little more than a mutual dole arrangement with some good legislation thrown in along the way. Seeing it that way, I'd have very few issues. If you regard it as a nascent country in the making, then I'd be a bit more mindful of the plan. Either way they've been fobbed off for 41 years (OK there were the dictatorship years) but it's not fair to string them along. Let's just go for a 2 tier EU and give the Maghreb countries a favourable look-in aswell.

[HP]

When it becomes a democracy rather than a puppet of the US and Britain ruled by its military... we might consider it... though they really need to clean up their humans rights abuses.

I for one loved the way Britain was dangling the carrot of EU membership in return for support over Iraq.... nice.

[ephenry]

70 million turkish citizens, more than all 10 previous states that came in last time, put together.

Islamic faction (48% of political spectrum and currently in gov) have made attempts to enforce sharia law

Not to mention a shocking record of human rights and a fully function autonomous secret police.


Just some facts so we know what we're letting ourselves in for.....

[johnfás]

If we don't and a hostile Islamic rather than secular state develops on our borders with no buffer against the broader Middle East it will put Europe in a much more difficult position.

There is basic dichotomy of argument for and against. It would introduse a new (possibly fearful) dynamic within the Union and there are significant human rights issues. However, to accept Turkey would be to allow greater influence to end these abuses plus it would give Europe a foothold in the Islamic world with a friendly bridge putting Europe in an excellent position to communicate with the broader Middle East. Plus as stated, to refuse and produce a hostile state on our borders is not a desirable outcome.

[Thac0man]

No. I think we are going down the road of giving Turkey some sort of special status.

[Catalpa]

No - the Turks are not Europeans so I can't see why the European Union should expand beyond Europe.

However the Turkish State is welcome to do favourable Trade deals with the EU and and in other areas of mutual interest.

My big concern would be immigration from Turkey into Europe which to all intents and purposes would be in the eyes of the Capitalists a bottomless pit of cheap Labour. IMO millions of Turks would up camp as it were and move West if and when Turkey joins the EU - in all probabliity hundreds of thousands would arrive here in Ireland within 3/5 years of Accession. And please don't tell me it wouldn't happen - we heard all that before!

At a stretch I would accept their membership if the free movement of people was left out of any Treaty between us and them.

[HP]

Most of Europe is already in an excellent position to communicate with the broader Middle East.