Austria Derails EU-Turkey Membership Talks

Twice in history have the Turks invaded Europe only to be turned back at Vienna, 1529 and again in 1683. The third time does not appear to be the charm. Turkey, a modernizing aspirant for EU membership for decades, is again having trouble from Vienna. Austria, alone among the 25 EU members, wants to offer Ankara something less than full membership. The Turks have refused a “privileged partnership,” which the Austrians have proposed. Today’s opening ceremony for the inauguration of negotiations has had to be postponed. Here it is, proof that Europe is incapable of acting like a world power.

Austria, of course, is perfectly entitled to pursue its national interests as it defines them in any manner best suited to the fulfillment of them. That is the definition of national sovereignty. And Turkey is entitled to the same. What is laughable here is the pretense that the other 24 members of the European Union can be held up by a nation of middling importance (and that is charitable). Pro-European politicians will point out that the process of integrating Europe, particularly politically, is far from over, and blather, blather, blather. Austria (which joined the EU in 1995) is essentially vetoing the wishes of the French, the Germans, the Italians, the British, the Spanish, and on and on.

And even this might be acceptable if there were some irrevocable decision that threatened the existence of Austrian national identity. But what is at stake is simply discussion. In the agreement to consider Turkish membership in the EU, the words are quite clear. The parties are agreeing to “an open-ended process, the outcome of which cannot be guaranteed beforehand.” But Austria wants to prevent, before opening the discussions, full membership for Turkey.

Nonetheless, there is a sense in which the Austrian government is being honest about its people’s view of Turkish membership whereas France and Germany, to cite but two, are not. Nicolas Sarkozy, a strong candidate to be the next French president, and Angela Merkel, who could be Germany’s next chancellor before the week is out, both oppose Turkish membership. The polls in France and Germany are about 2-1 against Turkish membership, so it isn’t just recalcitrant politicians. A referendum to ratify any future Turkish accession to the EU Treaty would be uphill at best in both nations.

Ultimately, the EU inevitably runs into the problem of having 25 members wielding a veto. The UN Security Council is unworkable and cumbersome with only 6 masters to please. Europe is, at best, a geographic concept still, certainly not a political one. And until the European Central Bank can spark some growth in Germany and the other old guard nations, it is not an economic one of much importance – the euro is very pretty and rather useful, but it’s also responsible for the lousy economic performance of many EU nations. The way forward is to allow for referenda to ratify majority decisions, but in this case, Turkey would still be rejected. At least, though, it would be rejected after something resembling a fair hearing rather than being denied one altogether by one government out of 25.


© Copyright 2005 by The Kensington Review, J. Myhre, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent.
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