Germany prepared to accelerate accession process for Turkey’s membership of EU

[IronFist]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/18/battle-aleppo-refugee-exodus-says-turkish-pm-merkel-germany-membership-eu
So Merkel proposed Turkey to accelerate its EU admission process in exchange of helping with the refugee crisis. She asked Erdogan to secure Turkish borders in order to prevent the new refugee influx.
I wonder if Turks are going to accept this proposal. The story with Turkish EU membership lasts since forever and yet even after meeting all those requirements it's still far from being a EU member. Looks like Europeans don't want much to see a Muslim country in the EU and Turks perfectly understand that.

[Beezer]

Isn't France obliged to hold a referendum on future EU enlargements? So there is exactly 0 chance of Turkey joining the EU.

[DavidB.]

Quite a stupid move for a eurofederalist if this were something serious, this wouls only cause disintegration. But it probably means nothing at all.

[Hnv1]

so an influx of Muslim immigrants have Frau Merkel worried but letting free movement to citizens of one of the largest Muslim states doesn't?

[politicus]

so an influx of Muslim immigrants have Frau Merkel worried but letting free movement to citizens of one of the largest Muslim states doesn't?

Stating the obvious: There are far more Arab extremists than Turkish or Kurdish ones.

[DavidB.]

But this is not only about extremists, it's also about the demographic balance. Unlimited immigration from Turkey would affect this just as much as immigration from Arab countries, if not more.

[politicus]

But this is not only about extremists, it's also about the demographic balance. Unlimited immigration from Turkey would affect this just as much as immigration from Arab countries, if not more.

Sure, but he asked about Merkel.

Turkey is also a NIC and one of fastest growing economies in the world - if seen over the past 5 years (currently slowing a bit).

There are of course very poor areas of Turkey, but its not comparable to Third World countries (to use a non-PC term). Its not like half the population would suddenly move to Western Europe if they got the chance.

Besides whats on the table is visa liberalisation for businessmen and students, not free labour migration.

[Green Line]

This is a good move.  It's extremely important to bring Turkey into the Western sphere of influence to counterbalance the extremist elements of Turkish society who want to make it another Saudi Arabia.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

Would the EU really stomach having its eastern end border with Syria and Iraq? Maybe if there was an independent Kurdistan to act as a buffer...

[politicus]

Would the EU really stomach having its eastern end border with Syria and Iraq? Maybe if there was an independent Kurdistan to act as a buffer...

I think this is mostly symbolic. There will never be agreement to accept Turkey as EU-member and both Merkel and Erdogan knows that.

[tpfkaw]

Isn't France obliged to hold a referendum on future EU enlargements? So there is exactly 0 chance of Turkey joining the EU.

And Cyprus would veto it.

[DavidB.]

Dutch people would petition the government into organizing a referendum on it, and I already know what the outcome would be.

[ingemann]

We don't need referendums to save us from Turkish EU membership, the Turks will do it on their own. This single fact among all the other unpleasantness we find in Turkey will be enough to keep Turkey outside EU: Turkey is the country which imprison the most journalists (for doing their work) in the world.

http://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2013/dec/18/journalist-safety-turkey

So people don't say that journalist is not good for anything, they're saving us from Turkish EU membership.