A young boy holds one end of a plastic shelf, as his mother looks at the prices tags at a Turkish bazaar in downtown Istanbul. While leaders of the 15-nation European Union, must decide at their December summit in Luxembourg wether or not to grant Turkey EU membership, a poor human rights record and high inflation may stand in the way of this nation of 60 million people. The 'Sick Man of Europe' is banging at the gate, but Europe doesn't seem at all keen about opening up. Peering out are the leaders of the 15-nation European Union, who must decide at their December summit in Luxembourg whether this nation of 60 million people is worthy of being let in.
Turkey really is part of Europe.
And rare is the European Union official who doesn't think Turkey is still sick. It has a bad case of inflation and runaway public spending. It suffers from a lack of tax reform, uncontrolled social security programs and a privatization program that just can't get off the ground. Worst of all is Turkey's inability to come to grips with human rights abuses. And I wonder if we will be treated fairly at the summit.