The Issue of Turkey's Membership in European Union and its Importance for Georgia

Abstract

The European Union is an economic union of European states. The member states of this union have similar values and high standards of democratic norms.

The Republic of Turkey is the only country in the Muslim world that has openly stated its desire to have relations with the European Union and made an official application for membership in 1959.

The EU Charter does not restrict any country from becoming a member if it shares the values of the EU Member States and meets the standards set out in the“Copenhagen Criteria”.

Whereas the Republic of Turkey has been waiting for the EU decision for several decades now, the fact of delaying the response for membership, is often perceived as a political rejection from Turkey’s side and not a single issue is named as a reason, including religious differences. But it has to be said that there are a number of issues that actually hinder Turkey from joining the EU. These include the number of population, building democratic institutions, and human rights.

Turkey’s opportunities of joining the European Union is quite low, but if the challenge is accepted by the EU and Turkey becomes a member state, it will only have a positive impact on its economic, social and political life.

And such a big step forward for the neighboring state will automatically have a positive impact on Georgia:Georgia will be a direct neighbor of the European Union. This will be a hopeful and drastic push for the young Georgian state to move steadily along the path of development and to actually implement the reforms it has begun.