The US factor in the EU

[AnotherFineMess]

Hello at all european users in this forum. This is my 1st topic and i've decided to open a discusion about something that has raised my concern which is the role of the US in the EU. During the entry talks about Turkey in the EU the foreign minister of the US communicated with each leader of the EU member and told them that they had to accept Turkey for entering. After the aproval of the entry procedure Turkey only remembered to thank the US and went saying that Greece and Cyprus could not have done otherwise but agree on the entry talks. Basing my concern at this fact and many others i ask the users of this forum to place your thoughts about this topic

[ART]

Welcome.

It's without doubt an attempt to weaken the EU: excesse of enlargement without inner strengthening carry to weaken the system.
Also the European nationalists know it, in fact they are very favorable to Turkey, while the left dream a impossible fast Turkish integration in the European system.

[Säbb]

The United States should shut up, that's a "problem" between the EU and Turkey. There is no new country with a different religion and culture in the USA, it becomes a member of the European Union. The US doesn't have to pay for it, that Turkey gets at the same level than the rest of Europe. So Amercia be quite.

Sebastian

[Dakkus]

USA is doing that quite much because they want to disturb the EU. However, as long as the Europeans don't listen to them, let them talk. Some American opening his mouth isn't a problem. Some European really listening to that bullshit, however is. And I don't think the opinion of USA really has changed the way EU thinks about Turkey. Except possibly for the British, who of course have to do whatever their president across the pond tells them.

[tabbs]

Well, since the European Union seems to simply grow without being able to reform its political and decision making structures, the US does not have to "disturb" much - the EU can ultimately paralyze itself very well. What kind of debate about Europe was initiated when the Dutch and French trashed the Constitutional Treaty? Practically none. The British EU Presidency is almost non-existent - kind of surprising after Blair's blocking the budget agreement, and then again not surprising at all.

The accession talks with Turkey had already been scheduled to start when Austria, as the only EU member state, wanted them to be put on ice again about a month ago. And then, just in time, came Carla del Ponte, chief prosecutor for war crimes in ex-Yugoslavia, and suddenly declared that the Croatian government cooperates nicely. The result? The EU is ready to start accession talks with Croatia, and Austria does not block the accession talks with Turkey any more ...

Christian

[melitikus]

Austria does not block the accession talks with Turkey any more ...

Christian

... irrelevant that most of the EU citiziens are against Turkey joining the EU, i dont understand how the EU wants to gain support from its people when it goes against their will

[tabbs]

So far the EU has never refused a country that wanted to join the Community/Union and met the membership criteria. Sure, for a new country to join, the existing members have to agree. Sure, in some cases the accession talks took very long, or were interrupted for some reason. But telling an "aspiring" country No, we don't even want to talk about your EU membership would be a new thing. If the European Union wants to introduce that model now, well, it should openly state that. But since the political Union is in limbo anyway ...

I am fairly sure that hardly any of the 10 "new" member states would be in the European Union now if the question of whether country X should be in or not had been decided by 15 separate national referendums, one in each of the "old" member states. So yes, the EU did the right thing in my opinion when it started the accession negotiations with Turkey. We all know that this will be a long (10 years? 15 years?) and difficult process.

The tough part, however, will come later. It won't help anybody if, only to get a new member into the EU, both eyes are closed when it comes to the question whether the country is actually ready to join. Meeting the accession criteria should be more important than following the schedule ...

Christian