In the run-up to the Helsinki European Council, which confirmed Turkey's status as a candidate member of the European Union, Andrew Duff MEP went to Istanbul and Ankara. Andrew Duff is Liberal Democrat Euro-MP for Eastern England and spokesman on constitutional affairs for the European Liberals. Nothing has been so controversial for the European Union as whether or not to open up the prospect of Turkey's membership.
Passions run high.
The EU and Turkey have been like bad tango partners, condemned to continue the dance while looking in different directions and treading on each other's feet. I went to Turkey just before the European Council with fellow MEP Daniel Cohn-Bendit to see for ourselves how Turkey was approaching this critical EU decision. First, we found unanimous support for EU membership from all political forces in government and opposition, as well as from representatives of all ethnic groups and religions. Even the Islamic fundamentalist Virtue Party sees the more liberal climate that will be undoubtedly promoted by Turkey's candidature as a guarantee against its being outlawed by the current, autocratic but aggressively secular regime. Second, we found a political culture in stark contrast with that of Western Europe's liberal democracy.