Turkey's historic path towards EU membership

The European Union has finally opened membership talks with Turkey, paving the way for this huge Muslim country to eventually join the bloc. Last-minute objections by Austria, which wanted Ankara to be offered a "privileged partnership" as an alternative to membership, should negotiations fail, were overcome. The opening of accession talks is a truly historic event and presents the EU with its biggest ever challenge - how to integrate such a huge, poor, Muslim country with a mixed human rights record into the club.

Should Turkey successfully conclude its accession negotiations - perhaps in about 15 years' time - it will be the Union's most populous member with the biggest number of votes in the Council of Ministers, so one can understand the preoccupation in certain European quarters. However, Turkey has been waiting 42 years to join the EU, it has been a faithful friend and ally of the West, as well as a loyal NATO partner, it played a major role in the Cold War containing Communism, and at the December 1999 Helsinki summit it was finally accepted as an EU candidate country.

The last-minute wrangling, therefore, just a few days before Turkey's accession negotiations were scheduled to open last Monday, was unfortunate and sent the wrong signals to the Turks, namely that Europe would always find an excuse to keep them out. This can only fuel anti-EU sentiment in Turkey, which is exactly what we do not want to happen. Opinion polls in Turkey already show a shift against membership, and that is not good news.

Austria's initial objections were partly tactical - they wanted to ensure parallel accession negotiations with Croatia - and this was accepted by the Union. However, it is also true that suspicions of Turkey run deep in Austria - and the Austrians seem to have long memories - they saved Europe from the Turks who were assembled at the gates of Vienna in 1683.

Nevertheless, the world has changed since then and that episode is very much part of history. After all, as Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi very correctly pointed out during his meeting with the members of the Maltese community in Michigan: "In 1565 Malta and the Knights saved Europe from the Ottoman invasion. Yet today we support Turkey's bid to join the EU - provided they improve their track record and fulfil all entry requirements."

There are certainly valid arguments on both sides of the debate about whether the EU should accept Turkey as a member, but I have always maintained, and continue to maintain, that the advantages - both for the EU and for Turkey - certainly outweigh the disadvantages. Yes, there is concern that the economic cost of Turkish membership will be very high, that the overwhelmingly Muslim population could change the character of the EU, that Turkey still has a lot to do to improve its human rights record and treatment of minorities and that the Cyprus problem has remained unresolved.

However, just think of the many advantages. EU membership for Turkey would mean a consolidation of a secular, Muslim democracy, it would be a catalyst for economic and political reform in the country, Turkey would become a natural bridge between Europe and Muslim countries and it would act as a model for the Muslim world. Furthermore, Turkey has a very fast growing economy, a young workforce, a huge army and more than half of its trade is already with the EU. The strategic role played by Turkey in both Central Asia and the Middle East would be a huge benefit in the EU.

So I have no doubt at all that in the long run Turkish EU membership will be very beneficial to both sides - there are clearly both political and economic advantages.

Of course, the accession talks will not be easy for Turkey, which has to give solid proof of its commitment to European values, both political and economic. One must acknowledge that Turkey has already made tremendous progress in political and economic reform but this trend must continue, as the EU will definitely be standing firm during the negotiations. Human rights and equal rights for minorities still need to be improved as does full freedom for other religions. The scenes of police beating women demonstrators a few months ago, for example, certainly did Turkey's image no good. In addition, it is important that certain social and economic reforms, which are on the statute books, are properly enforced.

A solution will also have to be found over Cyprus - it is inconceivable for Turkey to join the bloc without recognising one of its members. It is true that a UN-sponsored plan for Cyprus was approved in a referendum by the Turkish Cypriots but rejected by the Greek Cypriots, but eventually a way out will have to be negotiated.

It is also essential that Turkey comes to terms with its past - it must do some serious soul-searching about the Armenian question and acknowledge its past role in this terrible episode in history. There is nothing wrong in admitting such a role - it is in fact a sign of democratic maturity and of being at ease with one's self. And the Kurdish question must continue to be tackled - a Turkey in the EU has to give full rights to and respect for this minority, there can be absolutely no argument about this.

European governments now have a very important role to play in convincing their electorates that Turkey's membership of the bloc is in the EU's interest. They must convince voters - especially those in countries such as Austria, Germany France and The Netherlands, that this will bring increased security and prosperity for everyone.

Unfortunately, the 'EU15' failed to adequately convince many of their voters that the previous enlargement was a success - although it clearly has been - and this was partly responsible for the French and Dutch rejection of the EU Constitution. A huge public relations campaign is needed to win the hearts and minds of Europeans over Turkey's EU bid.

Turkey's membership will be positive for Europe as a whole - and it is important that both sides enter the accession negotiations with an open positive mind and with a view that if handled correctly this is a win-win situation.