Abstract
In the past couple of years, different voices became louder calling for an integration of Turkey as a steady member into the European Union (EU). Many discussions and conferences have been held concerning this topic and the question of integration spreads across the whole EU. Some say that Turkey as part of the European geographic boarders should be part of the EU, while others see a religious problem in the integration. However, the question of whether to integrate Turkey into the European Union is omnipresent. Arguments for and against the integration of Turkey have to be closely researched and thoughtfully discussed, before a final decision can be taken. The European Union is an international organization comprising 27 European countries and being governed by common economic, social, and security policies. Originally confined to Western Europe, the EU has expanded to include several central and eastern European countries. The EU's members are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The EU was created by the Maastricht Treaty, which came into force on November 1, 1993. The treaty was designed to enhance European political and economic integration by creating a single currency (the Euro), a unified foreign and security policy, common citizenship rights, and by advancing cooperation in the areas of immigration, asylum, and judicial affairs.
