Some of the main points on that are in this article

which I think is fairly balanced: User Posted Link

The UK is the only major EU country consistently to support Turkey's accession. Even France has wavered, though they are now also supportive.

I think the major argument in favour is the geopolitical one: Turkey has proved much more successful at mediating in the Middle East than the traditional way of doing it (or Tony Blair lining his own pockets while everyone else dies, for that matter), and that is the defining existential threat to all of us just now. They are unquestionably our ally against extremists in the Middle East. There's also the fact that the Turkish economy is doing quite well.

I think the major arguments against are the stark cultural differences between most of Europe and Turkey, and in particular the treatment of ethnic minorities within Turkey and women. Those differences are major and reconciling them is no trivial task - I think it will take decades, not years.

I tend to think the removal of Erdogan is a prerequisite for progressing the idea, which I think is a non-starter while he remains in charge.

So my view on this is "maybe, in time" and it's worth discussing what that would look like whether we ultimately go ahead with it or not, as part of the broad, multilateral engagement we need to cement and support Turkey as our ally against Daesh and others.

Posted By: Old Man on April 29th 2016 at 12:46:20

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