Why Turkey should join the European Union: Arguments in favor of Turkish membership

Abstract: One of the main objectives of the Turkish foreign policy is to integrate Turkey in the European Union. Over the last decades Turkey has unsuccessfully tried to join European Union. For various reasons (economic, political and social), European leaders have blocked the attempts of Turkey to join European Union. There is a widespread belief in Europe that Turkish membership poses a threat to the stability and security of the European Union. This article explains why Europe needs Turkey and why Turkey’s integration into EuroAtlantic structures should not be seen as a danger but as an opportunity for economic progress and development of Europe.