Turkey: The dimming appeal of EU membership

Given that so many EU members regret their own membership, Turkey should rethink its goal of joining them, said Semih Idiz at Hürriyet.

Semih Idiz

Hürriyet

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With the Balkans so unpopular, Turkey’s prospects for membership look dimmer than ever. Not only are we even farther southeast than the Balkans, but we’re also predominantly Muslim. Everyone I spoke to, “whether they belong to the ultra-right, moderate right, or the left,” believed Turkey would never become a member. But maybe that’s not such a bad thing. Given that so many EU members regret their own membership, Turkey should rethink its goal of joining them. Listen to the “acrimonious debates raging in Europe.” Do we really want to be part of that bickering, backbiting family?

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