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Thursday, 22 March 2007
The EU at 50: with or without Turkey?
The EU is celebrating its birthday, but it's not quite sure of its identity and borders. Here a quote from Eurotopics of 22 March on EU's borders:
<Regis Debray, for example, talks about the legacy of the Enlightenment which teaches us the "historical fact that all identities are formed 'by opposition'. And this goes for individuals as well as nations and even federations."
The question of the EU's geographical borders is raised every time a new country expresses interest in joining. Can a country like Turkey, with its predominantly Muslim population, become a member of the club of Christian Europeans? Could countries like the former members of the Soviet Union - for example Ukraine or Georgia - one day join the Union, or would their accession put a question mark on the identity of the EU?
The border issue is generally discussed in connection with European values. This was highlighted by the row following the publication in the Danish daily Jyllands Posten of the Muhammad cartoons in late 2005. All Europe reflected on how to balance European values like press freedom and freedom of expression against religious sensibilities.
"With over 20 million Muslim immigrants, Europe has brought the conflict with Islam upon itself and must now defend its values and principles, both within its own borders and without," wrote German author Peter Schneider in the Tagesspiegel of 23 February 2006, commenting on relations with Muslims in non-European countries, as well as with European Muslims. The ongoing debate on multiculturalism at Signandsight focuses on a similar issue, namely the limits of tolerance. One important thesis is that tolerance ends when fundamental European values such as the inviolability of the individual or equal rights for women are violated. >>
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The question of the EU's geographical borders is raised every time a new country expresses interest in joining. Can a country like Turkey, with its predominantly Muslim population, become a member of the club of Christian Europeans? Could countries like the former members of the Soviet Union - for example Ukraine or Georgia - one day join the Union, or would their accession put a question mark on the identity of the EU?
The border issue is generally discussed in connection with European values. This was highlighted by the row following the publication in the Danish daily Jyllands Posten of the Muhammad cartoons in late 2005. All Europe reflected on how to balance European values like press freedom and freedom of expression against religious sensibilities.
"With over 20 million Muslim immigrants, Europe has brought the conflict with Islam upon itself and must now defend its values and principles, both within its own borders and without," wrote German author Peter Schneider in the Tagesspiegel of 23 February 2006, commenting on relations with Muslims in non-European countries, as well as with European Muslims. The ongoing debate on multiculturalism at Signandsight focuses on a similar issue, namely the limits of tolerance. One important thesis is that tolerance ends when fundamental European values such as the inviolability of the individual or equal rights for women are violated.
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