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German Opposition to Turkey's EU Membership
by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700
Copyright
May 27, 2014
All Rights Reserved.
Reflecting growing opposition to Turkey joining
the European Union, a new Forsa poll commissioned by Stern Magazine showed the
only 26% of Germans favor Turkey joining the EU, down from 42% in 2005. Put differently, 69% of Germans
oppose Turkey’s attempt to join the EU, compared to 52% in 2005. Turks represent one of Germany’s
biggest ex-pat communities, at one time used as laborers in Germany’s
prestigious auto industry. While
multigenerational Turks have improved their education and status in German
society, a corresponding trend toward Islamization in Turkey has hurt the
country’s chances of joining the EU.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel strongly opposes Turkey joining the EU
primarily because the EU can’t manage its current economically depressed members
like Greece, Portugal, Spain, Ireland and Italy, all struggling economies.
Taking on another 76 million population could do in the EU that struggles
to meet commitments to its economically challenged members. When you have countries like Ukraine, fighting a bloody civil war to have closer ties to
the EU, seeking EU membership shows the kinds of limits that must be set in
Brussels. Growing opposition to
Turkey joining the EU comes from the France and Germany, both struggling with
growing Islamic movements in both countries, spreading to other EU states in
Northern Europe. Controversies,
like banning Islamic woman to wear headscarves in France, underscore the culture
clash that doesn’t bode well for EU membership.
Since Ankara began seeking EU membership in 2005, Turkey’s growing
Islamic trends present problems for the future.
Speaking to a boisterous crowd in Cologne, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip
Erdogan whipped up the ex-pats.
Erdogan told a crowd of about 16,000 Turks to integrate but not
assimilate in German culture, something not welcomed in Germany. It’s been Germany’s policy to accept
foreigners as long as they learn German and assimilate. Erdogan’s speech isn’t taken well in
the German parliament or Bundestag.
Whatever obstacles remain in the Turkish dispute over Cypress, telling Turkish
ex-pats in Germany to keep their Islamic identities inflict far more damage than
anything happening in Cypress. With
over 3 million Turks living in Germany, Erdogan feels obligated to acknowledge
their presence, especially because they left Turkey for work in Germany over the
last 50 years. Erdogan tells the
ex-pats to retain their Turkish identities but not to return to their homeland
to prosper in an improved economy.
Erdogan’s speech was viewed as unwelcome and divisive in Germany.
Merkel and French President Francois Hollande know that it would be
disastrous from Turkish citizens to have unrestricted travel and work permits in
Europe, driving many disgruntled Turks to consider immigrating to enjoy the
benefits of European life. Unlike Turkey where the dreams of Mustafa Kemal
Ataturk are fading under the weight of renewed Islamization, the EU is a
primarily secular society, where there’s a clear line between church and state. Erdogan’s respect of Turkey’s Islamic clerics playing a greater role in Turkish society
doesn’t mesh with the EU’s secular tradition.
Conflicts in France with headscarves, but, far more importantly, the EU’s
free press that reserves the right to criticize Islam or any other religion,
present problems for Turkey moving forward with EU membership. When satirical cartoons of Islam
appeared in the Danish press in 2005, it caused riots and death threats.
Under Erdogan, Turkey’s growing Islamic influence promotes a basic
incompatibility with the EU’s secular society and free press. Erdogan’s May 26 speech in Cologne
didn’t help matters, telling ex-pats to resists German assimilation. It was Turkey’s poor post-War
economy and Germany’s need to rebuild after WW II that led to so many Turks
immigrating to Germany for work. While Erdogan deserves credit for improving the Turkish economy, including Turkish
Airlines voted Europe’s No. 1 airline, his form of Islamic nationalism doesn’t
play well in the EU. With economic
problems of their own, Germany and France can’t see adding more cash-strapped
Turks flooding into the EU for work and lavish social welfare and retirement
benefits. Erdogan’s government
closing Twitter and blocking YouTube’s video sharing isn’t compatible with EU’s
open society.
Erdogan’s insistence that Turkey remains committed to EU membership
placates growing discontent with his government’s oppressive practices. As long as he pays lip service to EU
membership, he placates the public’s frustration with his government’s
overreaching policies to restrict Internet access and Websites like Twitter and
YouTube. With the EU managing the
economic struggles of member states, it’s highly unlikely thet Turkey, Ukraine
or any other struggling economy would be given membership in the EU. Turkey’s growing trend toward
Islamization poses real problems for assimilation in the EU. Telling ex-pat Turks to hang onto their Turkish identities also doesn’t bode well for
Turkey’s eventual EU membership. If
Turkish citizens knew the real story about the dwindling prospects of Turkey
joining the EU, it would be bad PR for the Erdogan government.
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