What do young people have to say in favour or against Turkey's entry to the European Union? Do they have any proposals for the European Parliament? That's the subject of today's Let's Talk.

Let's Talk: Turkey's entry to the European Union - For or Against?

30 STUDENTS DISCUSS   TURKEY'S MEMBERSHIP

My name is Rareş Niculescu.   I have been a MEP since 2007.

the EP addressed the subject   of Turkey's accession to the EU,

in the context of the analysis   of the report on its evolution

towards the achievement   of the EU accession criteria,

We have here the group   which is against Turkey's accession

and the group which is in favour   of Turkey's accession to the EU.

Let's start by analysing   the geopolitical dimension.

It is true that only 5%   of Turkey's territory is in Europe,

but the EU is a political and economic   organisation, not a geographical one.

Secondly, there's no provision   in the EU's constitution saying

what percent of one country's   surface should be in Europe.

Do you think that Turkey's buffer role   between Europe and the Middle East,

might be rather beneficial to the EU   or might it be to its disadvantage?

Turkey's accession to the EU   might bring several advantages.

Saying that Turkey is not   in Europe is not a strong argument.

Turkey could play a very important role,

a role of boundary between Europe   and the Muslim world,

between the West and the East,   between the West and the Islam.

This would be one strong reason   why Turkey should join the EU.

conflict-affected countries   like Iran or Iraq

because it cannot play a buffer role   whilst lying in that conflict area.

Strategically, I think   there are more advantages than risks.

The Islamic extremists see Turkey   as a regional power,

and, if it joined the EU,   the extremists would see the entire EU

because, indirectly, all member states   would exercise an authority in the area.

They might become more reluctant   to launch terrorist attacks.

And we might reach a solution   for the conflict in Afghanistan,

with Turkey as mediator   between EU and the extremists.

With all the arguments   that you presented,

we have exhausted the geopolitical   aspect of Turkey's accession.

from the perspective   of the Copenhagen criteria.

The Copenhagen criteria represent   a set of minimal rules

that every country must fulfil   in order to join the EU.

I know that the respect for human rights   is one very important criterion

and, for the time being,   Turkey faces numerous problems

related to the Kurdish minority   that does not enjoy full rights,

also, to women's rights,   which are very few,

Speaking of women's rights,   the freedom of expression and the like,

Turkey's latest constitution   has regulated all these aspects

the issue of women's rights,   an important issue, has been solved.

Considering that the so-called   'honour crimes' still take place in Turkey,

that is parents murdering   their own daughters,

for having spoken to   or for being class mates with boys...

This is in opposition to one of EU's   main principles, namely tolerance.

I would say that Turkey's greatest   problem is not the religious one,

because it is a secular country   which has reformed in this respect.

Others say that Turkey does not respect   the freedom of expression

Can a country   which is perceived as intolerant

No, a country which is not tolerant   cannot become a EU member state,

mainly because the EU promotes values   such as tolerance, solidarity.

Turkey has not proven to be a democracy,   even if it is a secular state.

I would like to say that the freedom of   expression is still breached in Turkey.

There are journalists   who fear for their safety.

Nevertheless, Turkey has tried for quite   a long time to fulfil these criteria.

The accession negotiations   started in 2005.

After five years, should they have   better results. What do you think?

Indeed, Turkey fulfils   only some of the criteria,

but it is on the right path   and, by the time of its accession,

it will manage to meet all the criteria.

Most EU member states agree that   a country which, as it is the case here,

has troops in northern Cyprus,   cannot join the EU.

Turkey has wanted to join the EU   ever since 1959.

Do you consider this is a proof   of Turkey's desire to join the EU?

Politically, Turkey is a democracy,   so it meets a very important criterion.

It makes progress, it adopts reforms,   it makes great efforts.

Concerning Cyprus, at one point,   the Turkish Prime Minister said,

because it would bring them   many more benefits.

They say that Turkey   is making reforms...

...that Turkey tries really hard   to reinstate tolerance.

Then, why don't they allow the   minorities to study in their languages?

that Turkey doesn't recognise   the Armenian Genocide.

I think this is   a very important argument

These are the pros and cons regarding   the fulfilment of the political criteria.

There are also economic criteria   among the Copenhagen ones,

the state must be endowed   with a sustainable market economy

and it must be capable   of coping with market forces