The European union was created in order to join European countries who suffered the world war II consequences, its policies aim to ensure the free movement of people, goods, services and capital within the internal market; enact legislation in justice and home affairs; and maintain common policies on trade, agriculture, fisheries and regional development, moreover to avoid clashes between them like before, nowadays EU policies and aims could be affected from some troubles that have created discord among the members, the latest events point out European union through weakness; the Greek frustration with EU peaked at an unsurpassed at the foreign affairs Council on August 14, when Italy, Spain, Germany, Hungary, Bulgaria and Malta vetoed the appeal by Athens to sanctions against Belarus. In the same way there are tension between France and Turkish because Macron president of France, has seen the growing Turkish influence in Libya as a threat to its economic in West Africa and the Sahel.
On September 10, Emmanuel Macron met with MED7 countries hoping to put pressure on Turkish nevertheless leaders of Italy, Spain and Malta move backward France’s intentions arguing the importance to set up dialogues with Ankara. Indeed, after days Spain’s President was willing to enhance relationship with Turkish also Italy discussed on the phone about topics related to Libya and the Eastern Mediterranean.” Two days after the Corsica summit, the Maltese Minister of EU Foreign Affairs met with Cavusoglu in Turkey’s Mediterranean resort town of Antalya.
It seems Europe is fading while Turkey seems to be on the rise, likely Europe will face in a short term the renaissance of the big empire where at least Russia, China and Turkey will be playing important roles on global affairs in Europe. Turkey’s ascendancy in the region should be expected to accelerate the fracturing of Europe, where each state is increasingly preoccupied with its own problems, forming competing alliances against one another and the idea of the united Europe based in prosperity, democracy and solidarity will become in a shadow.
Kevinn,
You stake out a bold position here, betting on the further rise of Turkey and the decline in influence of the traditional European powers. That is certainly one view, and you are fully entitled to your opinion. But another view is that Erdogan has overplayed his hand and that severe economic problems at home will undercut the aggressive stance he has taken. You are certainly correct, however, that there are major implications in all of this for Turkey’s hope of joining the EU, which may now be all but ended; and there could well be implications regarding Turkey’s future membership in NATO. Of course, if Erdogan is at some point no longer Turkish president, things could change.
–Professor Wallerstein