Why Austria is right about Blocking Turkey into EU

but nimh, that's exactly what they were worried about when it came to eastern europe. that's why freedom of movement has not yet been extended to the ten new countries, save for a few exceptions. but people didn't get up and leave en masse after we joined EU. likewise it won't happen with turkey. it's not that easy to just uproot and move half across the continent, even if it's possible on paper. i think it's an exaggerated fear.

oops, hit submit too soon. i mean, you have at least ten years of accession rounds, then you'll have another five or ten for full membership. with the principles and guidelines that eu accession process requires, turkey in that time will be completely different from turkey we know and see today.

Exactly, dagmar. And who knows, how the old, older and oldest EU member states will look like in 10, 15, 20 years?

I disagree, to an extent. People were told that in regards to the German reunification: that it's gonna be a smooth ride, that within a couple of years the standard of living would be equal everywhere, that we wouldn't have to surrender our welfare state....

Some 15 years later, we know that that was not quite the truth. Certainly, Germany didn't collapse. And there was no alternative to reunification, in my opinion.

But the problems are evident, even though I don't want to equate the reunification of the two German states to Turkey becoming a member of the EU. But it is going to affect the European Union, and certainly more so than the membership of the Eastern European states.

hmmm, i haven't heard that in slovakia. we expected unification to be bumpy, if not outright ugly. again, i can't speak for everybody, just my perception. and germans in the west germany were also doubtful. but it actually does prove the point: bumpy, unpleasant, with lingering resentments, it did happen (or is still happening) and germany is adjusting. nobody's saying turkey can be absorbed overnight, either.

Yes, the argument definitely goes both ways. It shows that it can be done, but at the same time people should be aware of the possible effects. Like unemployment going up. Welfare being cut back. Migration.

And you would think that East and West Germany were not too different, to start with. But still a long way to go.

Now take a country with such a different cultural and social background like Turkey, and the prediction would likely be that it would take a lot more time than mere 15 years until Turkey would be a country comparable to other European nations, even if the reform process that has, admittedly, already started would continue to gain momentum and we would eventually see significant changes.

Having said that, I must emphasize that this should not be an argument against future membership of Turkey. And, as Walter has pointed out - how do we know where the "old" European countries are going to be 15 years from now? It's hard to make that kind of predictions, but, again, we should be aware of the possible effects.

<I still do think, East and West Germany had different cultural and social backgrounds.>

Oh, certainly. I think so, too. But a lot less than, for example, Turkey and Greece....

You should meet the "right" people and you would change that judgement immediately :wink:

Hehehehehe.....




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Wait, that wasn't even funny...

No, that's not funny at all.

Hm, in the light of this discussion, I'll have to rethink what the thread title was meant to say.....

Yes, coming back to Austria: the missus forced me today to join her wandering through 42.000 m² of a furnishure shop.

The most interesting thing I've noticed there was the price label on a cushion:

well this has been a most entertaining dinner party

mr and mrs ossobosso
mr and mrs hinteler
mr and mrs oldeurope
one peer (of the realm)
and a horde of whores on whorses
(asiatic variety)

My forecast for 15 years from now?

1. The UK will be the easternmost state of the USA, with Dick Cheney jnr as its Governor.

2. The UK will still be unable to run an EU conference in an efficient manner.

3. M. Chirac will be considering retirement from his post as President of France at the age of 105, as he has been advised that he stands a good chance of winning the EU Presidential election.

4. Herr Schroeder grows a grey hair on his head.

5. The meal I ordered in the Greek Restaurant last night, will finally arrive.

You have just missed Ms Heller Steve.

Shame.....

indeed our hostess

bravo Madame eh merci

She'll be back in a mo, Steve. She is busy at the present time, intimating that all American women are as fat as elephants.

http://www.able2know.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=1602574#1602574

i must be a part of that horde than. well fine then. who's paying? here's the check!

oh dear, i didnt have space to mention everyone. Ms FlamingCloak not one of the hordes....I think they were uninvited anyway.