Number of Eurointegration Opponents Increased in Turkey

PanARMENIAN.Net - Abrupt decrease of European-leaning moods is registered in Turkey. If 57.4% of the population of the country were for accession to the EU, now this idea is supported only by 32.2%, indicate the returns of a sociological survey held in 32 out of 81 Turkish provinces, the Milliyet reports. "The number of European integration opponents has abruptly increased in Turkey," the newspaper writes. "The percentage of those thinking that the country should by no means enter the EU went up to 25.6% in 2006. This number was 17.9% in 2002," the Milliyet notes. The EU demands that for full membership Turkey hold reforms, specifically in democratization of internal legislation, human rights, freedom of expression, solution of the Cyprus issue.



Official talks on Turkey's accession to the EU were launched October 4, 2005. Within a year, according to reports of sociologists, the number of Euro-pessimists increased in Turkey almost twice. "At present 33.3% of respondents say they do not care, whether their country will join the EU or not. A similar opinion was expressed by 18.2% a year ago," the research data says. The survey has indicated that most Turks do not trust the EU- 78.1% among those questioned. At that 76.5% of respondents believe that the EU will toughen EU accession criteria, the source writes.



The survey in Turkey reflects European moods towards that country. According to latest surveys, most residents of EU member states do not want Turkey to join the EU. Some 35% of respondents support Turkey at present. According to estimates of Western experts, the European integration process in Turkey may take 15-20 years, reports RIA Novosti.