"Who else belongs to the EU?"
[p. 57]
[...]
Who else belongs to the EU?
After the huge “East-Enlargement” in the years 2004 and 2007, the mood in many states and institutions of the EU was affected by the reservation against a quick enlargement: The community had to first find itself in this constellation and consolidate. Especially the accession of Turkey is consistently discussed intensely.
Critics of Turkey’s accession argue that they would not share the traditionally Christian cultural ideals of the EU. Furthermore, enormous financial measures would have to be taken by the EU in order to bring the Turkish economy and especially agriculture up to the European level. Not least, sceptics point to the 72 million inhabitants of the country, who would make Turkey one of the biggest member countries of the EU. The supporters of the Turkish EU-accession instead underline that Europe could only profit from the cultural and ethnic diversity of Turkey, particularly since many Muslims live in the EU already. They emphasise its geostrategic role as an intermediary in the Middle East and South Caucasus. A “privileged partnership” already exists between the EU and Turkey, whereby Turkey enjoys the advantages of the customs union. While the question whether and when Turkey can join the EU is still open, a quick accession of Iceland and Croatia is more likely (then EU 29).
