Ray of Sunshine wrote:Grafenwalder wrote:What happened to Johnsons 2016 prediction of swarms of Turks "invading" UK? Over three years on and still nothing.
The 15 July 2016 Coup attempt happened.
I suggest you follow the news more.
Perhaps you should stick to facts, and then understand why it is extremely unlikely that Turkey will be joining the EU for decades.
1. CYPRUS. If Cyprus remains an area of contention, no serious negotiations whatsoever re. Turkey joining the EU will take place. The European Commission’s 2015 Turkey report noted that Turkey still refused to allow free movement of goods and travel with Cyprus, and that there was “no progress on normalising bilateral relations with the Republic of Cyprus”.
2. 36 CHAPTERS. In order for any country to be eligible for accession, negotiations on signing up to all the EU’s rules must be completed in 35 ‘chapters’.
Turkey first applied to join what was then the EEC in 1987. It was declared an eligible candidate in 1997. Negotiations were formally opened in 2005. By 2016, negotiations have closed on just one out of 35 chapters—‘science and research’, which was completed in 2006. None have been completed since then.
3. HUMAN RIGHTS 'CONCERNS'. The EU has raised significant human rights concerns in the 2015 Turkish report, noting ‘significant backsliding in the past two years notably in the areas of freedom of expression and freedom of assembly’. The report also found problems with discrimination and protection of vulnerable minorities. These concerns fall foul of the human rights conditions of accession.
4. THE VETO. We had it, but won't if we leave the EU. However, other EU members have strongly opposed Turkish membership. Both France and Austria will put the question of Turkish accession to a referendum, so Turkey would need to get approval from the popular vote in each country.
This would make vetoes from those countries likely, as they are amongst the more Turkey-sceptic members.
5. TURKISH PUBLIC OPINION. Turkey’s own appetite for joining is variable but seems to be declining. Of the five candidate countries it consistently has the lowest numbers in Eurobarometer surveys expressing support for membership. The latest survey showed 37% of respondents in Turkey believing membership would be a good thing.