19/11/2006 9:08:51 pm
Ireland - Turkey of Yesterday? Should we allow a country to be EU member, where women′s rights are not respected, where the grip of religion is strong and which is very poor? Well, we did, actually, in 1973, when Ireland joined the EEC. Someone reminded me that these are the main issues discussed about Turkey and the EU today. A somewhat drastic comparison, perhaps, but interesting and relevant. It shows how the EU membership - and the path to it - will enhance openness and modernity - and economic progress.