Romania relaxes visa requirements for Turkish businessmen

Turkey is the oldest candidate for EU membership, with a membership application filed on April 14, 1987 and formally launched negotiations on October 3, 2005.

But little concrete has happened within this timetable.

With a growing economy remained strong, significant energy and major regional political importance, it is not surprising that Ankara forward the slowness of this approximation.

Turkish Minister for EU Affairs Egemen Bagis, has expressed in Bucharest right this impatience.

"EU needs Turkey, not vice versa"

Turkey seems to have tired of waiting forever as candidate at EU gates; with an increasing influence in the Middle East with advantageous geostrategic position and very good relations with Russia, it feels that can put conditions to Europe.

Turkish Minister of European Affairs, Egemen Bagis, has declared at Bucharest that, pragmatically speaking, Turkey’s need for EU membership is increasingly decreasing, while the Union is increasingly reliant on Turkey.

Egemen Bagis, who is also Turkey's chief negotiator for EU accession, has explained why Turks consider themselves injured.

"One of the problems of Europe today is the economic crisis. Turkey proved to be one of the most dynamic economies, with an increase of 8.9 this year and 8.5 last year. Another problem is the issue of EU energy, and Turkey has 70% of energy.

"Another problem is aging of the EU, while Turkey's average age is 28 years, that Turkey has a young and dynamic population. Cyprus issue was not a problem for the accession of Cyprus to the EU, but when comes to Turkey, the first thing referenced is the Cyprus problem", said Egemen Bagis.

Turkey vs. EU

Cyprus problem came back into focus last year, when Ankara announced it will freeze relations with the EU if Cyprus will assume the rotating presidency.

Turkey believes that it was deceived by EU regarding Annan plan for Cyprus, that he made it wrong to recognize Cyprus and receive the state in the Union.

The Turkish position was stated very definitely. The message came from Brussels that the rotating holding program of the presidency will not be changed .

Turkish public opinion and constant declarations of the authorities seem not to leave room for a change of attitude in Ankara against the European resistance, unless, Turkey analysts say, Brussels comes with an alternative agenda, for instance a fast accession process or a major shift in policy toward Turkey.

Turkish Minister of European Affairs, Egemen Bagis, has complained that in the last five years, Turkey has never been invited to a summit of EU, although it is a candidate country.

Bagis has blamed the current block and not a certain European country: not countries are opposing, he said, but some politicians who do that for electoral reasons.

Another cause of irritation in Turkey is the visa for Europe, which, despite membership of the Customs Union, causes problems to Turkish businessmen.

Part of the problem follows to be solved, at least in the case of Romania.

"We sought a solution to repeated and justified requests to provide facilitation, especially for business.

“A formula has been identified and will follow to be implemented", said the Romanian Minister of European Affairs, Leonard Orban.

Advantages and disadvantages

Geopolitical and strategic role of Turkey has increased with the Arab spring and lately once with the civil war in Syria.

Paradoxically, precisely this position borders with countries like Syria and Iran, being also in sight to the nuclear program, brings Turkey not only more importance, but also a weakness because they are European voices who wonder why EU wants to accept as a member state that would make Europe have common borders with regions full of problems, from social unrest to nuclear suspicion.

Turkish Minister of European Affairs argued that his country is always a fan of peaceful solutions and that Turkey wants to join the EU, precisely because the Union is the best defined pacifist project in the world.

"You know that is an old saying that if, somewhere in Africa a butterfly lost its wings, this may cause a storm in another part of the world.”

“We live in a world where events that affect us can influence the others.”

But, in our view, if the neighbor's house burns, then you must intervene, because if you not intervene to extinguish the fire, the fire can take your house "commented the Turkish Minister for EU Affairs Egemen Bagis.

Emerging Turkey

Turkey's economy grew last year with 8.5 percent; the second worldwide growth rate recorded after China, according to official data.

However, the growth of 5.2% recorded in the last quarter of 2011 indicates a slowdown in economic activity.

Turkey's GDP has raised in 2011 to 1.2 trillion TL, equivalent to 772.2 billion dollars, while the income per inhabitant was 10,444 dollars.

Despite the consumption increase, imports have contracted in the last quarter of 2011.

Consumption growth was 3.4 percent, while the private sector has amounted to 5.2 percent, but imports have declined with 5 percent.

Manufacturing (5.2 percent increase every year), construction (7 percent), agriculture (6.7 percent), transport (6.8 percent) and health (7.8 percent) were key factors for the advance of the last three months of 2011.

Translated by Alexandra-Diana Mircea
MTTLC, Bucharest University