Do you think that this will harm Turkey's chances of membership of the EU?

[Haggisdj]

Do you think that this will harm Turkey's chances of membership of the EU?

[jake-the-peg]

What 200 troublemakers in a population of 71 million?

The BNP have more members than that!

[kinell]

I hope not, how could we possibly survive without Turkeys burgeoning economy and liberal views?

There are tens of thousands of British people queueing up at the Turkish border anxious to take advantage of their generous benefits system and free health service which is under-utilised and over-funded.

[anotheoldgit]

Anything that will harm Turkey's chances has got to be a good thing.

We do not want more muslims coming into the country, legally or illegally.

[Gromit]

No, this meeting will not make the slightest difference.

Turkey are no where near joining the EU. A realistic timetable is 20 - 30 years. The French are against their membership.

kinell

There has been tens of thousands of Brits buy homes in Turkey in the last five years.

[jake-the-peg]

There are a number of significant barriers to Turkey's membership.

But their economy isn't one of them, their GDP per head is on the same sort of level as Poland and well above Romania.

And Turkey is a pretty liberal country despite what Kinell might think

The Cyprus issue is significant.

On the plus side theirs is a large young population and with Europe's population falling we need that.

Well those of us young enough to be around in the next 30 years or so need that.

[kinell]

Gromit,

Exactly, the Turks are happy with people buying property and contributing to their hopeless economy.

Perhaps they would be just as welcoming to the queue of listless grabbers previously mentioned.

[VHG]

>Anything that will harm Turkey's chances has got to
>be a good thing.

Totally agree.

In 20 years time the EU will be so big we will be inviting Paraguay and Vietnam to join the EU.

My one wish would be for the whole EU thing to implode before our eyes.

Then
* the corruption amongst EU bosses and MEPs can be removed at a stroke,

*the corrupt accouting can stop (the EU accounts has not been "signed off" for about 13 years)

* and we can stop Greek farmers claiming for Olive trees they have not got (and all the hundreds of other EU frauds)

* and we can stop paying UK child benefit for children living in Poland.

[VHG]

>On the plus side theirs is a large young population
>and with Europe's population falling we need that.

But it is estimated that 99.8% of Turkey's population is Muslim.

Do we really want MORE Muslims in this country.

I for one would LOVE to see the Muslim population in this country go DOWN not UP.

[Quinlad]

Yeah. You've said.

[Gromit]

kinell

hopeless economy You clearly have no idea what you are talking about. I suggest you read this.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Turkey

AOG / VHG

We do not want more muslims coming into the country, legally or illegally.

EU membership has not resulted a huge influx of Greeks, Hungarians, Maltese or Czechs into this country, so why do you assume that every muslim Turk will want to come here. The many Turks I have encountered are very proud of their country and would not want to live anywhere else.

Turkey has a lot to offer the EU, and I suspect in the end, we will need them just as much as we need them.

[New Judge]

Nothing but nothing will stand in the way of EU expansion, except its final (probably violent) explosion and degeneration, as happens with all empires formed from member states with largely reluctant populations. The �problems� highlighted in this question will be brushed aside and the populations told to get on with it.

The only question to ask is how far will it expand before this explosion happens. Turkey will certainly be admitted, though probably later rather than sooner. Also in the running are Croatia and Macedonia. I also believe that Israel and Tunisia will eventually join �Europe� and that Norway will ultimately be cajoled into full membership, despite its people having voted twice to stay out. They will be asked again until they come up with the right answer.

[Gromit]

Try again:

Turkey has a lot to offer the EU, and I suspect in the end, we will need them just as they need us.

[LucyThomas5]

Turkey may well 'have a lot to offer Europe', but it has NOTHING to offer Britain. I only hope that by the time turkey is admitted, Britain has had the good sense to get out.

[rov1200]

Turkey to my mind is not part of Europe but is part of the Middle East. It has more in common with Iraq!

[Nannyjillx2]

The young Turksih population do not want to join Europe.

Until they resolve the Kurdish problem I can't seem them gaining entry and whatever we read in the press it is the military that rule Turkey and they will do their utmost to keep the country out. They do not want to lose the power that they have.

It is a predominantly muslim country however the majority of the muslims aren't hardliners in fact I would hazard a guess that it is only since the ruling party have come to power that many of the younger generation have started to turn to religion