Will The Rise Of The Far Right In The Eu, Have An Effect On Turkey Ever Joining The Eu?

[anotheoldgit]

At least France and Germany seem to think so.

http://www.todayszaman.com/news-348898-frances-le-pen-says-turkeys-eu-bid-should-be-vetoed.html

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/german-opposition-to-turkeys-eu-membership-rises-poll.aspx?pageID=238&nID=67092&NewsCatID=351

[jim360]

Realistically even those who are pro-EU ought to accept that the EU has grown far faster than its members -- the people -- really wanted. A far more sensible approach for the next few years, rather than yet more expansion, would be to work on ensuring that the "Union" bit of the name is actually an accurate representation of how people feel about it. At the moment the EU is looking rather closer to 27 countries tied together by force rather than through any commonality.

[New Judge]

Turkey (and the UK) are doing perfectly OK without the EU.

Trade between the UK and Turkey has increased by 40% since 2009 and now stands at £6.5bn.

[youngmafbog]

I'd have thought Turkey would be looking at never joining now.

Why would they want to, nothing much in there for them.

But NJ, surely we cannot have trade without the EU, that is the basic premiss of the pro argument !

[New Judge]

Yes, that what I was led to believe, youngmaf. It just shows you. Here's a couple of snippets from the government's own stats published earlier this year:

- Since July 2013 exports to countries outside the EU have increased 9.3% and imports have decreased 9.6%.

- In Q4 2013 Exports to the EU decreased by £2.4 billion (6.1%) to £36.7 billion and imports from the EU decreased by £0.2 billion (0.3%) to £55.4 billion.

- In Q4 2013 Exports to non-EU countries increased by £0.1 billion (1.2%) to £12.6 billion and imports from non-EU countries decreased by £0.7 billion (4.5%) to £14.8 billion.

It seems to me that trade with the EU is in considerable decline (down almost 10% in just six months) whereas that with Turkey has increased by 40% in four years. The UK might do better to seek markets of its own elsewhere. But that would not be the right message, I suppose.

[jim360]

Those figures also show that European trade is some three times bigger than our trade to the rest of the world. I'm not saying it would definitely be hit by leaving the EU (mainly because I have absolutely no idea) -- but presumably that's a factor that has to be taken into account?

[Old_Geezer]

It has been said before, but I'm quite happy for them to take our place in the EU. Is the membership card transferrable ?

[youngmafbog]

ok jim but:
In Q4 2013 Exports to the EU decreased by £2.4 billion (6.1%) to £36.7 billion and imports from the EU decreased by £0.2 billion (0.3%) to £55.4 billion.

So imports from teh EU are greater than imports. Do you think the EU would bite it's nose off to spite its face by refusing our exports to them when their exports to us are considerably higher?

[youngmafbog]

Problem is; I dont think there would be any takers. Especially with the amount we have to pay into 'the club'.

[jim360]

Like I said, ymb, I have no idea!

[Zeuhl]

/Do you think the EU would bite it's nose off to spite its face by refusing our exports to them when their exports to us are considerably higher? /

A large proportion of exports from UK to EU are produced by foreign owned multinationals based in the UK.

When the EU offers them attractive incentives to relocate out of an 'ex-member' state into mainland Europe and provide jobs in Portugal or Latvia or wherever, they won't need to 'refuse our exports' - we'll just have fewer of them.

[Gromit]

No. Turkey will never be allowed to join the EU.

They seem to be doing very well without it though.

[ichkeria]

It's far from clear that the far right is 'on the rise' EU wide. No surprise that the Islamophobic Le Pen, no doubt emboldened by her racist party's showing in the recent elections, should be mouthing off in this fashion, but Turkey's eventual accession or otherwise will hopefully depend on more rational considerations.

[retrocop]

What NJ quotes precisely reinforces what Mr Farage said on the TV debate a few weeks ago.He named Norway,as a non EU member, that was doing very well thank you very much by finding it's own worldwide trading partners trade without the need of EU interference.
Trouble is too many people are prepared to knock anything that Mr Farage says without actually listening to him and the good points he has to offer.

[anotheoldgit]

ichkeria

/// It's far from clear that the far right is 'on the rise' EU wide. ////

You really think so?

http://www.theguardian.com/gall/0,,711990,00.html

[jno]

France will do its best to keep Turkey out of the EU, as it did for Britain. It has an influential Armenian diaspora who loathe Turkey.

[ichkeria]

Armenians count for nothing. Who cares what they think. Least of all France

[Zeuhl]

/// It's far from clear that the far right is 'on the rise' EU wide. ////

You really think so?///

Seven EU countries moved 'to the Left' in the recent elections - notably those that have suffered worst in the recession.

Spain
Greece
Italy
Portugal
Slovakia
Romania

and Ireland, where Sinn Fein made significant gains

[SirOracle]

Retrocop Farage forgot to mention that Norway has oil,but perhaps he does not know this.

[Brenden]

Turkey should not be allowed membership to the EU they are 99 per cent in the Asian continent.