Seven European consuls general discussed why Turkey is not qualified to enter the European Union for political and social reasons last night at the Boston University Photonics Center.
“Turkey has done a lot to adjust, but there is still a lot to be done,” said Wolfgang Vorwerk, the consul general of the Federal Republic of Germany in Boston, adding Turkey must act alone to meet the EU standards of democracy and human rights before it is considered for acceptance.
“These are our benchmarks, and we will not make compromise on that,” Vorwerk said.
Vorwerk said if Turkey administers its own reforms, it will take the country up to 20 years to achieve them before the EU will consider its admission.
Since modern Turkey’s establishment in 1923, it has been closely linked to the Western world, working with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the United Nations, but it has not become a member of the EU because of international human rights concerns, following its invasion of neighboring Cyprus in 1974.
Hosted by the BU Institute for Human Sciences, “The European Union: United in Diversity” drew about 150 students and honored the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome last Sunday. The treaty originally marked the establishment of the EU.
The consuls general from France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom discussed economic changes and the open-door immigration policy among the countries. They also discussed the potential to create an EU constitution.
Consul general of Portugal Manuela Bairos said the discussion was constructive because of the comprehensive questions posed by audience members, whom she described as “very knowledgeable.”
“I think the problem is public opinion,” Bairos said about Turkey’s bid to join the EU. “I think there is a psychological aspect between Turkey and Europe.”
Students asked the majority of questions during the open discussion period, but Boston Globe Senior Editorial Page Editor Allen Berger moderated the discussion, which he described as “lively and pointed,” because the consuls general “didn’t dodge hard questions.”
“I [found] it to be a very open-minded cultural exchange,” said Metropolitan College student Stephen Siteman.