Turkey's European Union Bid Hangs
Published: 8 June 2013 By Abiodun Giwa
Tayyip Erdogan
Recep Tayyip Erdogan's fight with the Turks demand for untainted environment may further prolong consideration for the country's bid for membership of the European Union, based on arguments at an EU meeting held in Istanbul on Friday.
The argument began over Erdogan's effort to defend Turkey's police handling of the protest in the country in the last one week. He lambasted the EU and said that the police in EU countries don't fare better.
Štefan Füle, the EU's enlargement commissioner, had described the protests in Taksim Square as "legitimate" in a democratic society, and hinted that Turkey would only be allowed to join the EU if it truly embraced European values, the Guardian reported.
Turkey formally applied to join the EU in 1987. In 2010 Erdogan in a manner said to lacked diplomacy; called for a 2023 date, accused the EU of delaying tactics and said he was taking the country toward another direction.
The argument began over Erdogan's effort to defend Turkey's police handling of the protest in the country in the last one week. He lambasted the EU and said that the police in EU countries don't fare better.
Štefan Füle, the EU's enlargement commissioner, had described the protests in Taksim Square as "legitimate" in a democratic society, and hinted that Turkey would only be allowed to join the EU if it truly embraced European values, the Guardian reported.
Turkey formally applied to join the EU in 1987. In 2010 Erdogan in a manner said to lacked diplomacy; called for a 2023 date, accused the EU of delaying tactics and said he was taking the country toward another direction.
