DISINFO: European Union blocks Turkey's membership because it is a Muslim country of 85 million
SUMMARY
In order to be a member of the European Union, it is required not only to adapt its legislation, political, economic, and legal system, but also to have the same history, culture, and, though it is not openly said, to share religious values.
Turkey has been waiting for years to become an EU member. The main reason the European Union is blocking Turkey is the fact that it is a Muslim country of 85 million. The EU, which is experiencing a demographic crisis, where births are declining and populations rapidly aging, is wary of Turkey's membership fearing a dramatic change in the ethnic and religious composition of the "old continent."
RESPONSE
Disinformation narrative which seeks to present the EU as being biased against Muslim countries; attempts to drive wedges in between EU and MENA-countries and Muslim groups.
The Treaty on the European Union stays that any European state can join the EU. The applicant country must be a European state and respect and commit to the values set out in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU), namely: respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality and the rule of law; respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities; and respect for a pluralistic society and for non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men.
There is no requirement for aspiring members to share identical historical, cultural, or religious values with the EU. The EU recognises and respects diverse historical, cultural, and religious backgrounds among its member states and aspiring candidates, as stated in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
The enlargement process underscores the importance of adopting EU standards and values, which are not contingent upon specific historical, cultural, or religious similarities with existing member states, detailed in the EU's policy on enlargement.
Türkiye is a European Union candidate country, but its accession track remains at a standstill for reasons explained by Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy in November 2023, when the EU published its joint communication to the European Council on the State of play of EU-Türkiye political, economic and trade relations 2023.
"It's clear that there have been difficulties in the past, such as the dynamics in the eastern Mediterranean, bilateral relations with some of our member states and trade irritants. But we have seen a more constructive attitude on these points". He added, "although there are still open issues which we need to address together, and certainly this includes, in a relevant position, the Cyprus issue."
As Euronews reports about future relations:
"Among the new commitments are new green and digital investments, fresh efforts to facilitate visa applications, reinstated high-level dialogues on economy, energy, transport, climate and health, as well as a new high-level dialogue on trade aimed at tackling so-called "trade irritants".
The bloc will also resume negotiations on a modernised EU-Turkey customs union, provided Ankara supports efforts to crack down on the evasion of European sanctions against Russia".
See more cases such as Europe will become Muslim and The majority of newborns in Brussels are from the new Islamic community.