by Sumanta Paul

Created on: August 19, 2009   Last Updated: September 17, 2009

Turkey for the past forty years had been plying hard for a position in the European Union. Several efforts, discussions, changes in humanitarian policy could not fetch the dream whatsoever. Moreover chances seem to go dimmer with time. Is the affected image of the Muslim community as a whole pertain to such dilemma and delay in their application?

Phoenix from ashes- Turkey has come a long way in the process of building one of the successful Muslim nations. Yet the bet on its development could not fetch a European Union membership after a 40 years campaign. EU is divided in arguments, dissensions, apprehensions and are still in wide opposition and hesitation as regards to inclusion of Turkey in EU.

Well, analysis shows that it would be a win-win situation for both Turkey and EU if the membership is accepted. Turkey may be an Islamic nation, poor, huge population, not suitable for European standards but does that really matter to European Union as it has already included Cyprus (south of Turkey) in 2004? Turkey has its hands full and EU has a grave dependency on this country because pipeline gas projects would finally have to pass through Turkey to reach the demands of EU.

Let us consider how important is Turkey to EU

First, the Nabucco pipeline is the second huge pipeline project that would carry the Caspian oil reserves to the World market without crossing the Russian territories. This would be a major step for the European Union and its energy security policy. The energy consumption of EU is estimated to be 200 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas by 2030. This pipeline would provide about 31 bcm of its need.

Second, with projects like Baku-Ceyham pipeline (Oil would flow directly from Caspian Sea to Mediterranean) that would benefit Europe immensely has to cross Turkish territory before meeting with European markets. Thus Turkey can be considered inevitable for the energy expectation of EU.

Third, Turkey would provide the scope of a huge market for European goods with cheap and large labour force.

Fourth, will open the doors of the Muslim world to the European Union and bring them closer to Iran.

Thus the predominant dependency of EU on inclusion of Turkey can be seen with open eyes. It just have to make the members go through the viability study of including the country in the Union.

Why the bid to get EU membership is being debated:

1. Huge population, poor and follows the Islamic faith. Europe is not convinced with the fact that any Muslim country

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