15.12.2004 - 17:36 CET | By Richard Carter EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Members of the European Parliament have voted in favour of Turkey joining the EU by 407 to 262 in a controversial secret ballot, with 29 abstentions.

By calling for a beginning to negotiations "without undue delay", MEPs meeting in Strasbourg sent a strong message to EU leaders who will gather in Brussels on Thursday(16 December) to decide Turkey's EU future.

However, MEPs noted that problems still remain with Turkey's EU bid, including concerns over human rights, the role of the army, religious freedoms and relations with Cyprus.

And, in the case of "serious breaches of the political criteria", negotiations should be suspended, argued Parliamentarians.

The Liberals, Greens and Socialists were all broadly in favour of Turkey, while most of the centre-right European People's Party as well as far-right members voted against opening negotiations.

Secret ballot

The vote was dominated by controversy over the nature of the ballot. The EPP called for a secret ballot.

This meant that any divisions in the group would be covered up.

The move was roundly criticised by the Socialists, Liberals and Greens but the 147 signatures needed to force a secret ballot were easily obtained by the EPP with its 268 MEPs.

The Green group staged a protest at the secret ballot, holding up placards saying "yes" in all EU languages as well as Turkish.

And the leader of the Group, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, said, "we were not susceptible to the lunacy of the EPP and their confusion of freedom of expression with secrecy".

"This vote should be a lesson in democracy for those who fear transparency and attempt to manipulate political outcomes through backroom deals".

But some MEPs from the centre-right group remained defiant.

Francoise Grossetete, a French MEP from the EPP issued a statement saying, "it is in my view incomprehensible to integrate a country that is not situated in Europe, which does not even share the same values as us and that is currently militarily occupying another member state and not recognising it, the Republic of Cyprus".

(EUObserver)

The Turks have no business in Europe, period.

Ah.. but Europe definately has business with the Turks. In a few decades, they will be quite needed.

[ 12-20-2004, 10:07 AM: Message edited by: Dreamer128 ]

We need the US too, but we don't invite them for EU membership, do we ? But go ahead...why is that we need them in a few decades ?

<font color = lightgreen>It is very interesting that they finally decided to use a secret ballot, that way no individual voter has to answer to anyone for their vote. That shows a decidedly spineless lack of cajones. </font>

I have no doubt we would invite the US if we thought they might join. [img]tongue.gif[/img] Anyway, one reason we need Turkey is because of our aging populations. Not just in Western Europe, but in the intire EU. In 2050, the average European will be 52 years old whereas the average American will be only 36. Needless to say, that won't do our economy much good. Fortunately, Turkey has an extremely young population. We'll need their labour when we're all stuck in retirement homes.

Well, we better start making babies then. Who's with me ? :D

A secret vote, be it in parliament or in a public election is not a matter of cowardice, but one of the pillars of a working democracy.

<font face="COMIC Sans MS" size="3" color="#7c9bc4">The Aging poplation of Western Europe is a serious threat to their continued existance as a western culture. One of the main worries about Turkey being brought in is the expected flood of immigrants...Europeans may find themselves out bred and become a dying breed.</font>

Johnny, you should start the lobbying in your town. ;) I can hear it now, as you pass out bottles of beer, "Make babies not economic treaties!" [img]graemlins/biglaugh.gif[/img]