Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/1999-10-06-Speech-3-032"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"1999-10-06"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:State of relations between Turkey and the EU2
dcterms:Language	"en"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.19991006.1.3-032"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:1999-10-06-Speech-3-0332
lpv:speaker	lp:Bashir Khanbhai2
lpv:spoken text	"Mr President, in a historical context the European Union is a baby. In its infancy it questioned the eligibility of British membership and rejected its application to join. At that time many thought Greece or Spain – I suppose these days all that is forgotten – would never qualify for membership. Over the last ten years we have witnessed huge changes. Membership has expanded to 15 Member States, Parliament is beginning to acquire political power and will, I hope, cease to be a mere talking-shop. Turkey’s application has to be judged on the basis of the following criteria: Turkey’s strategic geographic and economic position and how this impacts on Europe; Turkey’s crucial role as a member of NATO and how this membership could be sustained if the door is permanently shut in its face; Turkey, which as a future responsible member of the EU could be the fire extinguisher for the fires of discontent that burn in the Middle East and beyond. I appreciate the fears of those who worry about Turkey’s Islamic population. The reality is that there are large numbers of Turks living in Germany and France, large numbers of Muslims – including Turkish Cypriots – who live in Britain. The populations of Kosovo and Albania are predominantly Muslim. The religious complexion of Turkey is a matter of historical accident, like Spain under the Moors for a few hundred years. Turkey’s culture is distinctly European and its religious complexion should not devalue its European identity. Let us look ahead over the next 10, 15 or 25 years and examine what is in Europe’s best interest: what will contribute to the prosperity and peace of this family of nations that we call the Europe of today. Let us not be hypocritical, and let us ask ourselves what is the intellectual basis for excluding Turkey. Young Europeans, socially mobile and far less religious than us, expect us to develop a Europe of opportunities for work and prosperity that we can all enjoy. Turkey cannot join the EU today; but geography, culture, history, security and common sense . . . ( )"@en1
lpv:spokenAs	member; Members from the European Parliament to the Joint Parliamentary Assembly of the Agreement between the African, Caribbean and Pacific States and the European Union (ACP-EU) (1999-09-14--2002-01-14)3 member; Committee on Development and Cooperation (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3 unknown; Conservative and Unionist Party (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 member; CONT (1999-09-13--2000-05-02)3 member; EPP-ED (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 substitute; Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy (1999-09-13--2002-01-14)3
lpv:unclassifiedMetadata	"Khanbhai (PPE )."1 "The President cut the speaker off"1

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