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Edited by Mrph1 on Jan 9th 2024 at 3:24:05 PM
HGW XX/7
The leader of those awful Jobbik people from Hungary was in London the other week campaigning among Hungarian expats, so they might have it.
Schild und Schwert der Partei
So France gives the okay to Turkey? Who are the historical opponents within the EU of Turkey's ascension?
Greece, number one hereditary enemy.
"And as long as a sack of shit is not a good thing to be, chivalry will never die."
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
Greece is a given, but who else? I was under the impression there were several.
....and speaking of Greece and those they oppose, that Macedonia naming dispute still a thing?
Yeah, the naming dispute is still alive and kicking.
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Wandering Jew
Germany must use military more, says president.
edited 2nd Feb '14 12:57:12 PM by DeviantBraeburn
Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
The new German defence minister says this as well. Personally I'd be happy if Germany woudl take on a more active role in the world.
Wait, doesn't Germany have a lot of Turkish immigrants or descendants? Merkel's party should take that into account.
edited 2nd Feb '14 5:32:56 PM by Quag15
Indiana Solo
@French overseas representatives- The only country with anything similar(That I know of at least) is China, they've got specific representatives for Returned Chinese, ie, the children of those who had immigrated to other countries.
Given it's a rubber-stamp committee for the Communist party, it really doesn't matter.
I'm baaaaaaack
A procrastination in of itself
I think Tunisia has something similar, I remember it coming up during the elections there. Though I could be wrong...
Thats precisely WHY they're witholding approval. Don't want more Turkish immigrants.
Just a harmless giant from a foreign land.
Other issues are that EU Membership has some standards, which Turkey has so far not reached and indeed has not shown actually willingness to reach. Death Penalty being just one of them.
My personal view on the issues is mainly focused on that. EU Membership is a privilege, not a right, and getting Turkey in because it would be "nice" while ignoring the issues will only give us grief.
Politically, the issue split Merkels Party (which is wary of it, because of various issues.) and the Coalition Partner SPD which is Pro Membership.
The German government is a bit complicated atm ;)
edited 3rd Feb '14 4:54:19 AM by 3of4
"You can reply to this Message!"
HGW XX/7
I'm not sure about it. On one hand, a strong EU is I think necessary for a proper Western foreign policy and Turkey will meet that. On the other hand, if Turkey comes in that means a huge amount of foreign and domestic policy challenges the EU has not yet shown the ability or willingness to take on. An in-EU Turkey means that, among other things, the Syrian Civil War, Iran, and Iraq will be on the EU's border. That seems like a very great deal to deal with, especially now, and especially considering the present internal divisions within the Union.
I also worry an in-EU Turkey will ultimately prove detrimental to those who wish for a United Europe. It will also damage the EU's chances of wooing Armenia away from Russia, and whilst Turkey is a better catch in almost every respect, Armenia is The Woobie.
Turkey abolished the death penalty in 2004. But I do agree in general; most notable are the laws against "insulting Turkishness", i.e acknowledging the Armenian genocide.
On the whole, I would be happy to see Turkey in the EU, but perhaps not right now.
edited 3rd Feb '14 7:28:33 AM by Achaemenid
Schild und Schwert der Partei
V
Turkey in the EU would also bring the Arab Israeli Conflict right to the EU's door, too.
Just a harmless giant from a foreign land.
It did? I grabbed the issue out of the back of my brain at random (written on tablet, bites me in the back for being to lazy to wiki it 
), but yeah the Armenian thing bugs me too. A lot. And the whole "against turkishness" etc is way to close at some things back in our own history (can't speak for others from here in that...)
I'm ultimately not against it either. I just think that expanding head over heels to be nice or "they ought to be in" is shortsighted. A close "affiliated" relationship in the short/mid-term on the road to full membership sounds simply the best way to go...
edited 3rd Feb '14 9:25:41 AM by 3of4
"You can reply to this Message!"
V
There's also the thorny issue of Cyprus that's connected with Turkey, isn't there?
The EU will never get Armenia. Even if they solved the Armenian Genocide issue, the EU continues to fete Azerbaijan due to their oil, which in turn funds Baku's new war machine that has the Armenians begging for cover. Russia's the only one in position to give such cover. For that matter, they'll never get Azerbaijan either for the same reasons that has Turkey in limbo.
Agreed about Turkey and it's effect on the EU possibly being detrimental. Then again, I think the EU is overstretched as it is and could probably do to lose a few of their more recent additions...
A procrastination in of itself
What's the wealth disparity between Turkey and the higher end EU countries? Because I think that was a big part of the problem with bringing in Bulgaria and such, far to great a wealth disparity lead to all sorts of messy things. I'd say that the EU should probably bringing in the rest of the Balkans plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland but that's it. Now I do realise that outside of the Balkans none of them (especially Switzerland) are interested in joining, but we don't need another big addition to the EU, let's keep it to the little guys for now.
“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
HGW XX/7
Iceland might join. Norway has always held off joining because of the EU's fisheries policy, which is ever-controversial (See the Factortame saga), and this will continue at least while their oil lasts. The EU doesn't need the Swiss and they don't need it, besides, to quote Elrond: "They hide in their mountains seeking riches — they care nothing for the troubles of others." 
Just kidding, though the Swiss are basically Dwarfs IRL.
Thing is, though, whilst Norway, Iceland, Switzerland are "big" countries in the sense that they have sizeable populations and economies, they would be easy additions to the EUSSR if they wanted to join; they have competitive economies, extremely advanced public services, and (relatively) politically liberal populations. It's taking on Eastern Europe and it's post-Soviet problems, especially the Balkans with it's raw sectarian and ethnic wounds, which would be the EU's big challenge.
Re regional differences: An obvious parallel is Germany pre-WWI; Prussia, Bavaria, Wurttemburg, etc were all fairly far-on, but there were plenty of backwards-ass mini-Germanies which needed a fair bit of help; Bismarck's social safety net, which so impressed Lloyd George, was partly a response to that. A similar thing could be effected with the EU, but it would need a far greater degree of political integration; we've seem the reaction to the bailouts down south already, that would be nothing if an explicitly redistributive policy came along now.
edited 3rd Feb '14 12:38:22 PM by Achaemenid
Schild und Schwert der Partei
Icelanders are divided because of what will happen to their fishing practices and stocks/products. Norway, besides the fishing issue, also has the oil, which they don't really want to give/sell to other countries in the EU or the Eurozone.
V
On the subject of Icelandic Fishing Practices...
...and Corruption across EU 'breathtaking' - EU Commission
edited 3rd Feb '14 3:14:48 PM by Greenmantle
Keep Rolling On
Wandering Jew
President Obama's top diplomat to Europe has been caught on tape saying “Fuck the EU."
edited 6th Feb '14 2:38:04 PM by DeviantBraeburn
Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
They just had to give somebody in Moscow prime material... <rolls eyes> Can we say "faux pas"?
And... I shouldn't have read nay of the comments. <_< Like any of the Republicans overseas have never dropped a bomb this bad. -_- And, why is this Obama's specific fault, again? <depressed>
Never Trust
Because he's Obama.
About Turks in Germany, are they still legally non-citizens or was that fixed a few years ago?
Trump delenda est
Is France the only European country with this sort of thing?