EU and Turkey

[n1 gull]

It looks like the EU is cutting a deal with Turkey to keep hold of more migrants in return for billions in cash.
I wonder if this is the first step towards Turkey joining the EU?

I just can't see that going too well?

 

[desprateseagull]

No ££ for Greece, though..?

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

Good for them.

 

[Deleted member 22389]

The Refugees and Economic Migrants have made it clear, it's the EU or nothing. I just can't see Turkey being able to hold these people back.

 

[Lincoln Imp]

The Refugees and Economic Migrants have made it clear, it's the EU or nothing. I just can't see Turkey being able to hold these people back.

I expect you're right although they have to try. Funding Turkey's efforts is a variation of the UK's policy of spending money in the refugee camps on Syria's border.

Turkey's membership of the EU is further away than ever it seems - it has a weak but power-hungry president and although ISIS was probably behind last week's suicide attack on a Kurdish peace march it says something that there's a weight of opinion behind the notion that it was the Turkish government playing dirty tricks. The UK was the large EU country most behind Turkish membership but with the muslim migrant issue getting ever greater and Britain's influence getting ever smaller it won't happen.

 

[La` Cucaracha¤]

Everyone seems to have missed the small print, always read the small print.

 

[Deleted member 22389]

I expect you're right although they have to try. Funding Turkey's efforts is a variation of the UK's policy of spending money in the refugee camps on Syria's border.

Turkey's membership of the EU is further away than ever it seems - it has a weak but power-hungry president and although ISIS was probably behind last week's suicide attack on a Kurdish peace march it says something that there's a weight of opinion behind the notion that it was the Turkish government playing dirty tricks. The UK was the large EU country most behind Turkish membership but with the muslim migrant issue getting ever greater and Britain's influence getting ever smaller it won't happen.

I do remember Blair talking about getting Turkey to join the EU, I think we expressed concerns about that then, and your right, it won't happen now.

 

[La` Cucaracha¤]

I do remember Blair talking about getting Turkey to join the EU, I think we expressed concerns about that then, and your right, it won't happen now.

David Miliband wanted Iraq and Syria to join as well.

 

[WhingForPresident]

Underdeveloped economy, opposing values to the rest of the EU, massive population growing at a rapid rate, despicable human rights record, would open the door to Europe even wider to people from the Middle East and 97% of it isn't even in Europe.. Seems a perfect candidate for the EU.

 

[Lincoln Imp]

Underdeveloped economy, opposing values to the rest of the EU, massive population growing at a rapid rate, despicable human rights record, would open the door to Europe even wider to people from the Middle East and 97% of it isn't even in Europe.. Seems a perfect candidate for the EU.

Well yes, these were the reasons for most EU governments being against Turkish membership. Margaret Thatcher was a great enthusiast for extending eastwards of course.

 

[ofco8]

Underdeveloped economy, opposing values to the rest of the EU, massive population growing at a rapid rate, despicable human rights record, would open the door to Europe even wider to people from the Middle East and 97% of it isn't even in Europe.. Seems a perfect candidate for the EU.

Like the humour. Yes, it would be an absolute disaster for Europe. My thinking is to head for the exit with each day that passes.

 

[Lincoln Imp]

Like the humour. Yes, it would be an absolute disaster for Europe. My thinking is to head for the exit with each day that passes.

The fact that the 'absolute disaster' of Turkey joining the EU is becoming less and less likely is making you want to vote for the UK to leave?

 

[WhingForPresident]

Turkish armed forces have shot down an 'unidentified plane' flying over their airspace.. Plane in question was 'warned three times' and failed to respond.

Edit: Now they're reporting that it was a drone.

 

[symyjym]

Turkish armed forces have shot down an 'unidentified plane' flying over their airspace.. Plane in question was 'warned three times' and failed to respond.

Apparently it might be a drone.

 

[La` Cucaracha¤]

Turkey wants the lifting of visa requirements for Turkish citizens travelling to Europe so what's the point in giving Turkey billions to stop this mass migration when we'll have millions of Turkish citizens coming instead

 

[Lincoln Imp]

Turkey wants the lifting of visa requirements for Turkish citizens travelling to Europe so what's the point in giving Turkey billions to stop this mass migration when we'll have millions of Turkish citizens coming instead

Citizens of 56 countries do not have to have visas to enter the UK. The citizens of certain other countries (Malaysia, Canada, USA and seven others) need visas only if they are planning to stay for more than six months. Visas issued in respect of other countries are time-limited, I believe always for six months. I am not sure why there should suddenly be millions of Turks rocking up at Heathrow, but I can imagine why some might claim that.

 

[symyjym]

Afghan asylum seeker (accidently) shot for trying to illegally cross into Bulgaria from Turkey. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...-police-near-border-with-turkey-a6696241.html

 

[La` Cucaracha¤]

Citizens of 56 countries do not have to have visas to enter the UK. The citizens of certain other countries (Malaysia, Canada, USA and seven others) need visas only if they are planning to stay for more than six months. Visas issued in respect of other countries are time-limited, I believe always for six months. I am not sure why there should suddenly be millions of Turks rocking up at Heathrow, but I can imagine why some might claim that.

Yet another European leader summit in Brussels. These meetings now take place so regularly that it is now a substitute for cabinet government at an European Union (EU) level. This time, quite out of the blue, without any rumours or warning, comes an astonishing Turkey-EU migrant deal. This I believe verges on insanity.

It is true to say that Turkey has had to bear a heavy burden for the ongoing civil war in Syria. There are something like two million displaced people who are living in Turkey and many of them have been there now for several years. This marks quite a contrast with countries like Saudi Arabia who have refused to lift a finger to help one of their fellow Muslims.

The EU plan is to give an extra €3 billion to Turkey to help with the treatment and facilities available to these displaced people.

And the UK contribution to this will be upwards of €300 million. There is of course no guarantee that because Turkey has more money to help these people that it will be able to prevent them from heading onwards to Europe. The EU policy has now clearly changed from welcoming anyone that sets foot on European soil to talking this week about a military wing to Frontex, the EU border agency. I can see why the EU thinks that this is the right thing to do. Personally, I think it will make little difference.

What is really amazing is that we have learnt overnight that the accession process for Turkey to become a full member of the European Union is to be speeded up. I have no doubt that David Cameron will be delighted. He has been for over ten years, along with George Osborne, the strongest cheerleader for Turkey to become an EU member.

The first step towards this is that from as early as next year, 75 million Turks, most of whom are even poorer than those that live in Romania and Bulgaria, will have visa-free access to the Schengen area. It is quite extraordinary that such a massive decision can have been made so suddenly.

Even if the €3 billion was to prevent the current migrant tide, visa-free access means that will be replaced if not surpassed by a new migrant tide. Perhaps the effect of all of this will be a doubling of the numbers getting into the EU from Turkey.

No doubt the UK government will use the defence that we are not in the Schengen area. But as we know the results of this will be an even bigger camp at Calais, the possibility of Turks getting EU passports, and ultimately when they become a full member, total free access to the United Kingdom. Those who’re thinking about voting for Britain to remain a member of the European Union had better think very hard about how many more schools, hospitals and houses they think its acceptable for us to build ahead of Turkish entry.

It would be irresponsible to wait and leave our public services so vulnerable. Over the last ten years net migration has averaged a quarter of million a year. I think on current trends and potential Turkish membership we can confidently expect a huge increase in what is already unacceptable.

 

[symyjym]

[tweet]654980613158666240[/tweet][/QUOTE]

 

[NooBHA]

Turkey has a fairly strong economy and would be welcome into the EU if that was the only issue. However, it is not.

There are human Rights issues in parts of Turkey which precludes it from entering the EU. Their treatment of the Curds in the North of the country. Their prison systems break Human rights regulations and in some parts of the country, young females are denied access to schooling but Turkey refuses to address these issues. Successive Governments in Turkey have tried to appease the EU but there reforms don't go far enough to satisfy other EU members.

They do try and they actually pay our home office lots of money to go out and advise on what reforms need to be done. I have friends currently out there at the moment advising on how to reform their prison system. The major issue is the Curds in the north. Many of their Activists are in Turkish prisons and the West take issue with the fact they are not actually convicted of anything