The other side of the coin: the growing opposition in turkey against to the european union accession

V.2.2. Customs Union between Turkey and the European Union
Turkish Economy Minister, Zafer Çağlayan spoke at the meeting with Deputy Premier, Germany’s Economy and Finance Minister of Baden Wurttemberg, Dr. Nils Schmid on March 25, 2013 in Ankara. At press conference, by underlining the difficulties faced by Turkey due to the European Union Customs Union membership Çağlayan said that “Difficulties arising from visas, the quotas placed on the free movement of Turkish products, and the fact that Turkey cannot sign Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with countries who have already FTAs with the EU all cause unfair competition for Turkey”. ⁹⁰ He also stressed that “The EU allows businessmen from many non-member countries to enter countries of the union, while Turkey is exempt from this list. … This is applying double standards and is unfair”. By taking into consideration that the EU does not include Turkey in FTAs with third countries, he continued his speech “I would like to express that if the current situation continues, we may have to put the customs union with the EU on the table for reassessment, as it is now working against Turkey”.⁹¹ He described his concerns on the negotiations between the EU and United States of America (USA) that will affect the market of Turkey in a negative way. By having a very big market (USA), Çağlayan believes that a prospective FTA between the USA and EU will cause unfair competition that can damage the Turkish economy.
Two days later, Zafer Çağlayan made a similar statement at meeting of automotive industrialists, “The Customs Union has begun to work completely against Turkey. Under these circumstances, to switch to a Free Trade Deal would be more in line with Turkey’s interests”. Additionally, Turkish Economy Minister Çağlayan clearly emphasized his attitude in his speech to a newspaper by saying “If this system aggrieves us then we tell the European Union: Let’s revise this system, lift the visas, lift the quotas on our goods and say ‘Turkey is also a side in this deal,’ while making free trade deals with other countries. Or we could leave the Customs Union and you could make a free trade deal with us”.⁹²
By pointing out that Turkey “should negotiate new terms or pull out of the deal with the EU”, he also said “This has now become an agreement of servitude. At this point, Turkey is, unfortunately, getting shafted by the customs agreement that I had supported in the past”. However, Minister of State and Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan, who is former Minister of Economy as well as Minister of Foreign Affairs, declared in an interview with Wall Street Journal Turkey on April 2, by addressing the speeches of Çağlayan that “It's not that easy to say we're angry and we're out ... He who rises in fury reaps damage from his fall. We always have to think strategically”. ⁹³

The statement of Turkish Economy Minister Zafer Çağlayan reminds the speech of the current President of Turkey Abdullah Gül at the Turkish Parliament on March 8, 1995 when he was a member of the Islamist political party, Welfare Party (Refah Partisi, RP). The statement was made after Turkey became a member to the European Union Customs Union. By underlining the greatest importance of the agreement, he emphasized that RP was the only party which was against to the agreement of customs union because of signing without asking to the people and informing them about the details. Gül blamed the government that signed the agreement without making any referendum. He continued that “Turkey did not join to the European Customs Union with its efforts. I explain this in here. This is completely ideological, entirely a political event. This ideological stance, currently applies to both the rulers of Turkey and Europeans. It is certain that Turkey will not enter the European Union; this is said by Europeans, this is said by all the prominent politicians in Europe, this is said by all the European philosophers. Because; the European Union is a Christian Union. We do not say this; former head of the European Union Delors says this, the former British Prime Minister says this, everybody says this in Europe, everybody knows”. (Grand National Assembly of Turkey Records, 8 March 1995: 61) The statement of today’s president of Turkey can be considered as an old dated argument. However, the statement was presented to show that still such statements are effective in terms of how Turkey “feels”. For example, in recent years, Deputy Prime Minister Responsible for the Economy, Ali Babacan stated that “Turkey has been made to feel unwanted in Europe”.⁹⁴ Sometimes it can also be seen on the titles of the book (e.g.) “Turkey, step-sister of the European Family”.⁹⁵

These extremely important declarations, which were made by the highest level of the Turkish government, should be taken into consideration and carefully evaluated. As well known, Eurobarometer makes numerous public opinion surveys on the issues related with the EU throughout the member and candidate states. By taking into account reports of its reports; in contrast to EU countries, Turkish people trust more to their national government and parliament. In accordance with the result of this report, people in Turkey trust the EU 21% while the percentages of trust level are doubled to the Turkish government with 44% and parliament with 45%. (Eurobarometer Standard EB 78, November 2012: 2) These degrees of confidence show how the Turkish government and parliament can be effective on public opinion.