European Union was born with the Treaty of Rome in the name of EEC (European Economic Community) on the 25th of March,1957.Turkey firstly applied to be a member of this Association in 1959. Since then, Turkey has applied to be a member.In my essay, I want to mention about the first historical relations of Turkey with Europe and my opinions about the future of Europe.

To start with Turkey’s bilateral relations with Europe in the past, on 12th of September,1963 Ankara Agreement was signed. This Treaty made Turkey and EEC more associated. And Ankara Agreement came into the force on 12th of December,1964.

After the 12 September 1980 (When the Army became the comander of the government) Turkey and EEC’s relations became frozen for a while. Because this event was a shame in Turkey’s past. The human rights and democracy was being destructed by the current government that was against to the Copenhagen Criterias.Copenhagen Criterias are the Criterias that a country must suit to become a member of EU that was made by the founder members of EU.The country’s current policy,economics,democtratic governance and human rights must be like the EU countries.

After the Army went back down in 1983, and multi selection of political parties has started, the relations between Turkey and EU became associated again. On 14th of April,1987 Turkey officially applied to be a full member of EU.As the First step of joining to EU Turkey and EU stepped into the Customs Union.

In the 2000s Turkey’s membership process to EU was getting faster. EU countries have decided that Turkey’s joining to EU debates should start on 3 October,2005. It hasn’t been decided how much this debates are going to continue yet.

Right now 2013 is the nearest date that Turkey’s application to EU will get approved. But it is guessed that it will continue till 2020s.

According to these information,Turkey has really struggled to be a member of the European Union. But if you ask me,Turkey won’t be a member of the European Union. As we can see,there are obvious differences between EU countries and Turkey.

For example, Turkey is an (almost) Islamic Country. But all of the EU counries are Christian. And Turkey is considered as an undeveloped country among all the countries. But again, all of the EU countries have high standards in many cases like education, health,living,career and etc. And also if a country wants to be a EU member it should suit the rules of Copenhagen Criteria. I don’t think Turkey can suit this criteria. In Copenhagen Criteria ,the council members of EU wants that country’s current policy, economics,democratic governance and the preservence of human rights suit to the other EU countries’ criterias.I don’t think Turkey’s current governance is democratic. I think this is the reason why the negotiations between Turkey and EU is getting this longer. And when we look at the Turkey’s current economy again, I don’t think it is well now. Everything is getting more high-priced then ever. And the life standards in Turkey is really disqualifed ,too. As Professor Dr. Ömer Faruk Çolak said “In the capital city of a country that is a member of EU, a disabled person can do whatever he wants but in Ankara, he can’t.’’That’s because in Turkey disabled people are being ignored, there aren’t enough rights for them, even there is many disabled people in Turkey. As another problem, there is a huge difference between Eastern Turkey’s and Western Turkey’s living conditions. According to me, these living conditions are bad in Eastern Turkey because of the education problem. This problem is the main source of all the problems in Turkey. In Eastern Turkey people think for their children and they don’t care what they think,what they want to be when they grow up and their education. This is wrong. That children’s parents think like that because they are uneducated ,too. This continues like this. And education problem isn’t just that, the people in this country aren’t encouraged to read,write,getting well education and stuff. Until these problems are solved,I don’t think we will be a full member of EU.

And of course there are many diffrent problems like environmental pollution, The problems that EU can see it as a problem like, the unkind people of Turkey, Itinerant trade,irregular urbanization and etc.

In my opinion, I don’t want Turkey to be a member of EU. Of course,policy is important but if we start to adapt to the EU countries ,Turkey will lose a part of itself and Turkey won’t be the same Turkey anymore. If we lose the things that makes Turkey Turkey; we’ll lose our national heritage and the things that our Founder of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk wants us to protect.

As a result, I don’t see and I don’t want to see Turkey as a member of EU in 2030 or 2050 right now. I can’t talk definitely but until Turkey sees the main problem that lies under all the problems Turkey won’t be able to develope itself and be a proper country that gives importance to its national heritage and doesn’t lose it. As Mustafa Kemal Atatürk said: ’’The nations that can’t find their national worth, they will be hunted by the other nations.’’

We need to remember this quote and never lose our national heritage to gain the other countries respect.