Turkey to join the EU?

[kwicky]

Should the people of Britain be given a referendum on whether to accept Turkey into the EU? The population of that country is 99% Muslim. If a member, like other EU states, they will have the ability to freely cross European borders to live and seek work here. This plan to accept them is suggested by none other than David Miliband the UK Foreign Minister, at a Chatham House speech this week. The USA for whatever reason has suggested that Turkey should be a member.
The article is below:

http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/files/10188_190 707miliband.pdf

[Gromit]

It will be twenty years at the earliest before Turkey is allowed to join. France is opposed to Turkey joining so it might not even happen at all.

[Gromit]

Is that the right link, couldn't find anything about Turkey there?.

No we should not have a referendum about this. You elect a Government to govern for you, you cannot run a country by having referendums every five minutes.

[vehelpfulguy]

I dont even think some of the countries that joined recently should have joined, let alone Turkey.

We have a situation where Poland joined, and hundreds of thousands of people have come from there to here to work.

What have WE gained from the deal. Just cheap labour driving English people out of jobs.

The EU have even given Poland millions of pounds to improve THEIR road network to get THEIR goods out of Poland and into the rest of Europe to sell.

Very little goes the other way as goods that we make are too expensive to sell in Poland.

[jake-the-peg]

That's a rather short sighted "accountant's view" of the EU.

And not particularly accurate either as Polish immigration in particular has contributed way more to the net revenues of this country in terms of the tax and national insurance that they've cost in terms of benefits and services they've cost us.

Change happens, build a bridge and get over it

[vehelpfulguy]

And did you know that THOUSANDS of people who came here from Poland, Estonia etc are claiming CHILD BENEFIT for children who are still in Poland, Estonia etc.

Are we mad or what ?

There are people in this country living in poor housing, with no jobs, and no prospects of jobs.

AND WE ARE GIVING CHILD BENEFIT TO POLES WHO ARE WORKING HERE BUT WHOSE CHILDREN ARE IN POLAND.

I am surprised the British people are not rioting on the streets.

http://www.people.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=17717 503&method=full&siteid=93463&headline=hand-me- -pound-75-and-i-ll-get-child-benefit-for-your- kids----in-poland---name_page.html

http://www.migrationwatchuk.org/papers/p_Daily Mail_10feb_06.asp

[vehelpfulguy]

Do you think these people are glad Poland joined the EU ?

All sorts of companies who are now moving their business to Poland.

http://www.ceram.co.uk/news/jul/poland.htm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/456 4227.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hereford/wo rcs/5266744.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/nolpda/ukfs_news/hi/news id_3734000/3734012.stm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/weekinweekout/stori es/2007_goingeast.shtml

So all these companies above are moving their business to Poland because it is cheaper, while we pay Child Beneift to Poles coming here, making us even less economic on the world stage.

Mad.

[MrBen5]

Hmmm, no more muslim countries should be allowed to join until they can show that they are tolerant people and will abide by our English laws and ways of life...

[Loosehead]

I say let them join, at least they know how to run a jail!
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question42 6308.html

[Loosehead]

So Gromit , Framce objects, that's ok then, now we are getting closer to the real aim of the EU!

[Gromit]

Loosehead,

I was merely outlining the real timetable for Turkey possibly joining the EU. I personally are not bothered what the French think. Germany are apparently against it too. If it does happen it will not be for a very long time. We might as well be discussing who will win the 2028 World Cup because that will happen before this does.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/eu rope/article651843.ece

[MrBen5]

England will win. Little rooney jnr will be the first scorer.
Woohoo...

[theonlyone]

I hope they are not allowed to join as they will be another lot turning up wanting houses , benefits etc , this country is now the laughing stock of the EU . France send asylum seekers back and the ones allowed to stay do not get the benefits which are dished out here . I once went to sign on and hadn't got a clue , no one wanted to help me , so never bothered , just got another job . Suppose if I had been of ethnic origin I would have got some assistance . So who's country is this ???

[Gromit]

Sorry MrBen5,

We lose on penalties to Germany. Young San Pedro Beckham missing the crucial spot kick.

Ah well, only another 4 years to the next finals in Palestineland.

[NJOK]

And you have the love and support of all your good friends here on AB, fender.

[NikkiB]

Before Turkey should even be considered to be part of the EU, they should sort out their appalling record on human rights abuses, then show that they can stick to it for decades AND prove that they can contain the fundamentalist Muslims in their midst jostling for power.
For many poorer and less cosmopolitan nations, membership of the eu is just like having a winning lottery ticket: a plug in to enormous wealth without having to do b*gger all to reciprocate it.

[kwicky]

If Miliband is a clone of Blairs, well he advised him long enough at No 10. then his desire for Turkey joining the EU is all but a done deal. He has been leant on by the USA and he must do their bidding. All this talk about acting as a bridge between Europe and the Middle East is fanciful,someone should tell him to think for himself.

[ruby27]

fender62 you are of an ethnic orgin, everyone is. We can guess what your is.

kwicky. No. Reason's referendums are not suitable ways of making complex decisions.

[kwicky]

Yes or no will do