Europe’s current problems :Lack of serious leaders

Friday, June 22, 2007

OPINIONS

http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/
All over the world people are guided by leaders. Maybe Europe’s current problems stem from the lack of serious leaders

Mithat MELEN
According to an opinion poll published in the Financial Times, almost every EU member country is against enlargement. Seventy one per cent of the French, 66 per cent of Germans, 60 per cent of Italians and the British are against Turkey's EU membership. The lowest rate is in Spain with 55 per cent; still more than half of Spain's population says “No.”

This week another EU summit is going to be held in Brussels. At the end of this month three more chapters are expected to be opened during negotiations between Turkish and EU technocrats. Apparently the French are against the opening of the chapters that concern economic and monetary union. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has said only two more chapters should be opened.

Turkey is expected to be the center of discussion during the Brussels summit. Contrary to the EU Commission's warning to member countries to stick to their words and continue the negotiations, the negative atmosphere among the European populations will naturally bring the subject of the future of the enlargement to the top of the summit's agenda.



50th year syndrome

In actual fact the EU is living through a 50th year syndrome. For human beings there are medical terms to describe this syndrome but for international organizations that are having their 50th year problems nobody could yet find an appropriate term.

Just think that an economic alliance suddenly transforms itself to something else, diverting from its basic founding principles and becomes a political union. To top it she has also to burden herself with the debris of a European block that had collapsed years ago. She cannot compete with the world any more and can barely stand on her feet. Then the population of the union's member countries will oppose both the union's policies and a new enlargement.

The EU is aware of the fact that she has to transform and survive. Everybody is aware that this 50 year-old union cannot go on like this for another 50 years. The chapter concerning relations with the EU in the MHP election declaration says: “Under today's circumstances both sides need a strategic thinking and reflecting period to make a healthy, realistic assessment with good will.”

Especially for the EU to have a realistic and healthy period of assessment the matter should not become involved with petty political concerns. Unfortunately for decades politicians in Germany and France have used Turkey for internal political consumption.

To make a healthy and realistic assessment Turkey and the EU should think strategically. Under changing world circumstances the transformation for Turkey and the EU are essential to reach a dynamic structure.

Turkey is trying to reach world standards and adapt herself to market economy conditions and a globalized world, while Europe is tired of struggling any more. She has become a social market economy and tries to find a way out of it.

Almost 60 per cent of Turkey's foreign trade is with the EU. She is the EU's 5th trade partner. Eighty per cent of Turkey's monetary markets are linked to the EU. Five million Turks are living in Europe. Turkey has a developing and dynamic population of 75 million people. She is the gate to the Caucasus and the Far East. She has a 57 year-old democratic system.

All over the world people are guided by leaders. Maybe Europe's current problems stem from a lack of serious leaders. Among EU's elites one cannot find one single leader who has the ability to shed off internal and individual concerns and think strategically. Both in Turkey and the EU, I hope in the near future we will have a new leadership who will have the ability to think strategically.

* Editor's note: Regular TDN columnist Mithat Melen is a candidate for parliament on the ticket of the National Movement Party (MHP). The TDN welcomes perspectives of candidates from all parties.