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Originally Posted by myboynoah
I get the impression that the Europeans (outside of the UK) don't want Turkey to join the EU at all. They continue to make Turkey jump through all kinds of hoops before even considering the question. Fear of Turkish ascension was one of the main drivers behind the rejection of the EU constitution by France and The Netherlands. France and Germany, currently Europe's two most populace countries, fear losing that clout to 70 million Turks. Western Europe also doesn't want to be overrun by cheap Turkish labor (they already complain about "Polish plumbers"). There is also an element of religious bigotry and racism involved.
IMO, bringing Turkey into the EU would be a major step toward bridging the gap between the Western and Islamic worlds. Sadly, I expect the Europeans to miss the opportunity. They like to talk a big game, as long as someone else is playing.
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A significant portion of the political elites of Europe do want Turkey in the EU, but the populace does not share enthusiasm for this idea. Inclusion of Turkey is vital to the aims of the EU in integration, and probably to the preservation of the European state as it is currently constituted, because Turkey is a country that has aa growing population while almost the entire EU is on the verge of shrinking. Including Turkey could help stave off the demographic pressures that are the most difficult problem lurking in Europe's future.