Respecting geography. Will the time come when the EU institutions are frank enough to renounce the fiction of Turkey's accession once and for all? And to replace this illusion with relations that are compatible with geography and reciprocal interests? It's not necessary to return to ancient history, to the Ottoman Empire or the massacre of the Armenians, nor is it necessary to ponder the current tragedy of the Kurds. It's enough to stick to what every child learns in geography lessons - Turkey is not in Europe, most of its territory is in Asia, while the EU (its name tells you) is a European alliance. But this situation does not hinder good relations between the two parties, of course. On the contrary, it makes effective relationships possible and cooperation that could become substantial and politically and economically useful. Turkey's economic health and its good outlook are a certainty, according to experts.
It is understandable that the Turkish authorities remain attached to a fiction that they consider politically useful and they pursue concrete objectives - for example, a visa system that makes it easier for its citizens to cross European borders. The EU is very rigorous on this (see EUROPE 11180) and it is normal to discuss it. But why pretend to believe in accession?
If the Brussels institutions don't take action, a political group in the Parliament could at least take the initiative by calling for a debate, by stressing the geographical reality. Everything would become clearer and therefore more effective for Turkey itself.
This column has for a long time been alone in calling for accession to be abandoned - accession which in the current circumstances could become politically dangerous and which anyway offends geography. I'm hoping for a positive development.
(FR)