Parrots

If one of them vetoes the opening you cannot open that particular chapter. Nine chapters are waiting at the E.U. Council. Two of the seven chapters are blocked. Approximately once in every six months, one or two chapters are opened. If it goes on like this only, for nine years we are going to wait for all the chapters to be opened. How long the negotiations will last, nobody knows. But at least we are aware of the fact that until 2014 nothing will happen as the European Union has no money.

In 2013 the European Union will meet to discuss Turkey’s membership. Until 2019 the European Union will have to find the necessary money for Turkey’s possible accession. In the meantime the world has been hit by one of the strongest economic and financial crises during these recent months. As we are sitting in our seats comfortably saying, "Nothing will happen to us," all world leaders and parliaments are taking extraordinary measures to overcome the crisis. Huge amounts of money are being transferred into the system. Even capitalism is under scrutiny. Strong arguments about the system are going on.

The European Union has pushed aside the Barcelona and Lisbon processes with the decisions it took. The concern is about new social unrest. The rate of jobless is increasing rapidly especially in the West. The European Union has an amount of almost $3 trillion to apply emergency measures. The real economy sector as well as the financial sector is facing serious difficulties. The measures went as far as going against European Union decisions and bailing out banks for huge amounts of money. All banking bonds are now owned by the public sector. The process was against the Acquis but they found a loophole to do it.

Turkey is the seventh biggest partner of the European Union. Looking from the financial aspect maybe Turkey is even partner number three. More than half of Turkey’s foreign trade is with the European Union. More than half of Turkey’s gross domestic product, or GDP, comes from the European Union. Five million Turks live in the E.U. zone countries. The world is being hit by one of the most serious financial crises. But Turkey cannot discuss the issue with the European Union because the related chapter has been linked to the question of Cyprus.

Turkey’s minister is speaking at the meeting of the E.U.-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Commission and presenting a happy picture. On the other hand European parliamentarians are also happy about their part and say, "Good. Then go to the International Monetary Fund, or IMF, and talk to them." The Commission is a body in which Turkish and E.U. parliamentarians find the opportunity to have exchanges of opinion. It has worked for many years.

Our interlocutor, the E.U. Parliament, reveals no interest even with this joint commission. Even representatives of big political groups within the European Parliament are not represented in the joint commission. Turkey is doing nothing but discussing three or four issues with certain European parliamentarians. There are parrots on both sides who repeat whatever they have learned by heart for the last 36 years. When we say, "Let us organize a system in which we can be able to discuss economic issues and this global crisis by passing the chapters," nobody seems willing to do it. Turkey is not doing her reforms for the sake of gaining accession but for herself. The European Union on its part says, "Do your reforms and adopt the necessary legislation."

City tales say, "Negotiations for enlargement are mostly painful. All member countries have tasted them in the past." Soon Croatia will follow in the steps of Romania and gain accession. Even Bosnia Herzegovina and Macedonia’s accession chances are much stronger than Turkey’s.

Talk circulating around is about the IMF and the World Bank losing their influence and effectiveness. The European Union which has been crisis-tired during these recent months will have to check her situation once again. Otherwise there will be no stopping its difficulties. It is becoming more important what Turkey, that is a member of the G-20, will do in the coming five or 10 years. Turkey is known to continue on her way with both the European Union and IMF anchors for years. But it is becoming a possibility that Turkey may change her mind and abandon both anchors in the near future. Maybe that is why the Justice and Development Party, or AKP, government is dragging its feet about taking all the necessary measures. As though it does not exist itself, the European Union is pushing Turkey toward the IMF. But the IMF is aware that it does not have the necessary amount of money Turkey needs. It is not clear what Turkey will do as she will have to pay back an amount of a $100 billion in outstanding debt in 2009.

Probably Turkey is preparing to take a strategic decision to part ways. If you cannot find the opportunity to discuss economic matters with your biggest partner then you have to find another solution.