Introduction
Turkey’s approvalto join the European Union is a very challenging issue.Both the benefits and disadvantages make it difficult to understand. It is taken to be either beneficial or disadvantageous depending on how a person is looks at it. Greece, for example, has taken the matter so serious and is almost convincing Turkey to join the European Union. Their main consideration and interest have been based on the economic and military advantages associated with it(Torre Blanca, pp. 23). Based on the existence of resources and military strength of Turkey, Greece has been left to think on whether to convince Turkey to join the union or to take advantage of their immediate neighbors rather than extend their advice to this distant neighbor, Turkey. This paper discusses the status of Turkey’s potential candidature to the European Union directed by the Greece interest to support the agreement.
The Situation
The plans to approve Turkey’s accession to the European Union attract both sides of the argument. Looking at both sides, it is considered that any decision that would be arrived at has both advantages and disadvantages associated with it. Normally, the most important factor that is considered before approving any state to join the European Union is the economic state of the country and the awaiting benefits after it has been confirmed (Hooghe, pp.2). When any new member state is allowed into the union, there is a probability of increasing job creation and market expansion to the neighboring member states as well as the union at large. Perhaps, Greece has considered approving Turkey’s accession into the union after carefully considering the ready market that would be accessed in Turkey as well as job that would be available for its citizen. This factor will be an importantincrease to Greece economic growth.
Looking at Turkey’s economy, great danger is forthcoming to be enforced on to Greece and the entire union. Turkey is a poor state with large differences in income between the poor regions and the rich region. Therefore, including Turkey into the union enforce a significant pressureto Greece. Specifically, it is reported that the poor regions of Turkey has an income level of about one-fifth that of the rich region. The effect is that if the accession plan is confirmed, then Greece will have to allow the entry of citizens from Turkey searching for jobs in Greece. Also, the population of Turkey is quite high making the poverty level to be high. This fact indicates that if Turkey is accepted to be a member of the European Union, there will be substantial economic differences within the union making it difficult to create aunity policy (Torre Blanca, pp. 25).
On the other hand, there are factors that Greece may consider while accepting Turkey’s accession to the European Union. First, Turkey is a country that has natural resources such as minerals like crude oil. Once it isallowed into the union, it will use the union’s FDI to improve its infrastructure in order to increase its economic potential. The union’s member states, particularly Greece, will, therefore, have an opportunity to exploit the resources for its economic benefits. Secondly, Turkey’s population structure is a possibleadvantage to Greece. Like many other European nations’ population structures, they is characterized by an aging population that do poorly in the labor market. Therefore, Turkey’s accession into the union will provide an active, energetic and productive young skilled manpower that would greatly improve Greece economic productivity (Piedrafita, section 3).
Additionally, Turkey’s strategic position within the union makes it a suitable front-liner in fighting the crimes and terror attacks. As a result, Greece will enjoy the protection and security that will be improved by Turkey’s accession to the union membership. Likewise, Greek is a democratic society that supports equality and respect for human rights. This factor makes it have a chance to successfully teach full democratic principles that are currently under threat in Turkey (Lundgren pp. 17). It will increase Greece status in the face of the union as it will spreadvalues of good governance in Turkey.
Solution
After carefully looking at both sides, it is obvious that the benefits of accepting Turkey into the union are more than the disadvantages. Greece will benefit greatlyif Turkey is allowed to become a member of the European Union (Torre Blanca, pp. 24). Greece will enjoy the security against terror attacks due to Turkey’s good location; Greece will have the right to use active workers from Turkey. Therefore, Greece should fully be in support of Turkey’s accession to the European Union membership.
Work cited
Hooghe, L. and G. Marks. “Does identity or economic rationality drive public opinion on European integration?”,Political Science Online. 16 July 2009. 9 April 2014 <www.apsanet.org>.
Lundgren, A. "The limits of enlargement." Democracy and European Governance;ARENA Conference. Oslo: University of Oslo, 2002. 3-5.
Piedrafita, S. and J.I. Torreblanca. "The three logics of EU enlargement: Interest identities and arguments”, , ." Politique Européene (2010): vol.15 pp. 25-69.
Torreblanca, Antonia M. Ruiz-Jiménez and José I. "European Public Opinion and Turkey’s Accession." European Policy Institution network (2007): 12-25.
