THE INTEGRATION OF TURKEY IN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY AS A STABILIZING FACTOR FOR THE MIDDLE EAST

Abstract

The purpose of my paper is to evaluate the economic and political effects of a possible accession of Turkey into the EC on political and economic stability in the Middle East. The main objectives of the European Community nowadays are completing tts internal market by the end of 1992 and preparing the ground for monetary union towards the end of this decade. In spite of the EC's desire not to be distracted with other agendas, several countries have already applied for membership (Turkey, Malta, Cyprus, Sweden, Austria and Switzerland) and some other EFT A countries intend to do so as well. Given the economic and political importance of some of the new candidates, the EC has not been able to postpone discussion of the enlargement issue, as witnessed by the contents of the agenda at the European Council of Lisbon last June. In fact the EC will have to take most of these requests into consideration in the near future and I will argue that it is in the Community's interest to deal with the Turkish dossier from now on.

Özet

-The purpose of my paper is to evaluate the economic and political effects of a possible accession of Turkey into the EC on political and economic stability in the Middle East. The main objectives of the European Community nowadays are completing tts internal market by the end of 1992 and preparing the ground for monetary union towards the end of this decade. In spite of the EC's desire not to be distracted with other agendas, several countries have already applied for membership (Turkey, Malta, Cyprus, Sweden, Austria and Switzerland) and some other EFT A countries intend to do so as well. Given the economic and political importance of some of the new candidates, the EC has not been able to postpone discussion of the enlargement issue, as witnessed by the contents of the agenda at the European Council of Lisbon last June. In fact the EC will have to take most of these requests into consideration in the near future and I will argue that it is in the Community's interest to deal with the Turkish dossier from now on.