Monday, October 10, 2005

The E.U. Will Seek Turkish Labor

"The E.U. Will Seek Turkish Labor

BY SEMIH IDIZ

MILLIYET- Forces in Turkey opposed to the European Union ask if the EU is really being honest, why doesn’t it provide Turks with freedom of movement? Most people supporting Turkey’s EU membership consider this an open visa to go to Europe to work. This should be considered normal, because unemployment is our most pressing problem. The aim of Turkish citizens who went to Europe over the last 40 years was getting jobs. However, Europe isn’t the same as it was 40 years ago. At that time, there was a need for unqualified labor. However, the situation is so different today that in Germany, where 5 million unemployed people live, even Turkish people who are settled in Germany complain about illicit labor from Turkey. Turkish people considering the EU only a place to work scares Europeans for this reason. When they talk about Turkey’s EU membership, the ‘free movement’ issue tops their concerns. Among those who are opposed to giving Turks free movement is Poland, which has yet to get this right, but will in a few years."

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