Tension Rises as Turkey's Entry Summit Approaches

Entering the final week from when European leaders will decide whether to begin EU accession talks with Turkey, an opposing voice is rising amongst conservatives, who see embracing Muslim Turkey into the EU as a risky agenda.

The major decision will be made during the summit taking place on 16th-17th December in Brussels. Along with many other nations and organisations, the 25-member bloc has expressed concern about Turkey's treatment of religious and ethnic minorities, adding that improved rights for minorities are a condition for Turkish membership.

Last week, as reported by Associated Press, the Turkish prime minister inaugurated a mosque, a synagogue and a church to showcase Turkey as a country that respects religions. However, within Christian conservatives, a strong opposition to Turkey's entry into the EU has arisen, even though religious freedom seems to be changing.

Reported by the German newspaper, Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagzeitung last Saturday, the German Christian Social Union party leader Edmund Stoiber said he and Angela Merkel of the Christian Democratic Union would do their best to produce a decision in support of open-ended negotiations with Turkey at the coming summit.

"Turkey's EU membership will be blocked by the Europeans. Our goal is a 'privileged partnership' that will not put any extra burden on Europe," Stoiber added. The German Christian Social Union even claimed that it will work with other countries, like France, to block Turkey's membership.

A survey published by the EU executive on Friday showed that majorities in Austria, Finland, France, Germany and Luxembourg oppose further enlargement of the bloc. Governments in Austria, Denmark and France are pressing the EU to spell out an alternative to full membership.

It was reported that a resolution entitled "Do not ignore the problems with Turkey" will be introduced by the conservatives in the German parliament on Monday. The paper suggests that the Turkish EU membership would increase the risk of terrorism, gang crime and Islamic extremism in Europe.

The decision made during the summit will clearly be very crucial to the future of the EU. A British newspaper The Observer commented that if Turkey is not accepted this time, it may confirm to some people that EU is a "Christian Club".

The fact that Turkey is trying its best to gain the favour of the EU may create a new way to religious freedom in the country. Last month, Mission Network News (MNN) reported that pressure from the EU and human rights' watchers pushed Turkey into action and stated that authorities have been slowly been changing its treatment of religious minorities.

The Observer compared Turkey with Ukraine and said that the people's response to the opposition leader's call for democracy in Ukraine showed what Ukrainians long for. The same is valid for Turkey nowadays.