FX.co ★ Turkey’s dream of EU membership to come true?

Turkey is doomed to a never-ending queue to enter the European Union. Nowadays, the question is still open. Ankara submitted a request for EU access back in 2005. The multi-million population cheered the move of the authorities. 75% of the Turkish nationals voted for the European integration.

Meanwhile, inspired by the prospect of being EU citizens, a lot of Turks are flooding to Germany for permanent residence there before Turkey is officially recognized as an EU member. Interestingly, just a smaller part of the Muslim country is situated on the Balkan Peninsula in Southeast Europe. Nevertheless, thousands of Turks have already settled in cozy Europe attracted by generous unemployment benefits. The Turkish population is scared of Erdogan’s authoritarian government, deteriorating human rights, and unlawful methods of struggling with the opposition. In late November, the European Parliament voted unanimously for freezing the painstaking talks with Turkey for its membership in the euro bloc. The European policymakers cited “disproportionate, repressive measures” taken by Ankara after the failed coup in July. In the wake of the coup, Erdogan’s government embarked on a sweeping purge, imprisoning tens of thousands and suspending more than 100,000 civil servants. As a result, the negotiations on Turkey’s EU access are suspended indefinitely.

The vote of the European Parliament is not binding as the final decision depends on the governments of EU countries and the European Commission. In response, Mr. Erdogan declared that Turkey could join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization instead, an alliance led by China and Russia.