European Parliament
Vanhecke (NI ).
(NL)
Mr President, the possibility of Turkey’s eventual accession to the European Union brings us face to face with a historical responsibility. It is a fact – and let me repeat this – that neither geographically, politically, culturally nor economically speaking is Turkey a European country. Moreover, it is an Islamic country where, as in all Islamic countries, other religions are barely tolerated, if at all. It is a country that fails to meet any of the accession conditions.
The historical responsibility that we bear is in respect of those European citizens who – quite rightly – do not want this Turkish accession, and who should not be forced to swallow an undemocratic decision. Furthermore, our society is already paying a high toll for the fact that on our Continent, millions of people of non-European origin sometimes find it very difficult to coexist with the indigenous population. Turkey’s accession, with free movement for 70 and, soon 100, million Islamic, non-Europeans, will only exacerbate these problems exponentially and can lead to much worse. We therefore demand a referendum in which the European citizens can speak out in favour, or rather against, this potential Turkish accession.

