Silvio Berlusconi has expressed his hope to bring Israel into the EU for “the Judeo-Chrisitan culture is the basis for European culture”. If Turkey and Israel become EU members a truly unified foreign policy will remain a dream and Europe will not be able to play an important role in the international scenario.

In Europe millions of people have a turkish background. For their integration into the european society, it is of great importance wether and when Turkey will be granted accession to the European Union.

Today Serbia officially put in for EU membership. Milica Delević, head of the Serbian Office for European Integration, said: “We officially confirm to be ready to accept all the values and obligations necessary to join the EU”.

Europe’s desire to play the role of a great power might miss the opportunities that Turkey’s application to access to the EU is providing her with.

Turkey applied for associate membership of the European Economic Community in 1959. Half a century in the waiting room and the enlargement prospects for Turkey still at a standstill. Turkey applied before Ireland, the UK and Denmark, but negotiations have experienced a death-slow tempo and there is not a clear and straightforward path for the long standing relationship between Turkey and the EU. Indeed, it was not until December 1999 when EU Helsinki Council recognises Turkey as an EU candidate country on an equal footing with other candidate countries and not until October 2005 when the formal opening of Accession negotiations with Turkey started.

As Iceland is being part of the European Economic Area and has signed the Schengen agreements, the country is already fulfilling 22 out of 30 chapters of accession criteria according to the Commissioner for Enlargement, Oli Rehn. In order to avoid critics from candidate western Balkan countries, EU foreign ministers reminded that they were fully supportive of an EU perspective for the concerned countries. But France is opposed to any enlargement before a possible entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty.

On 8 July, Turkish President Abdullah Gul approved a law giving civilian courts the power to prosecute military personnel who might threaten national security. He insisted on the relevance of this legislation as an essential part in the EU membership talks.

Freedom of religion and expression lead to a strong and vibrant civil society that only strengthens the state, which is why steps like reopening the Halki Seminary will send such an important signal inside Turkey and beyond.

Nicholas Sarkozy is championing the project of a new Euro-Mediterranean Union. But the idea will only succeed provided we learn from our mistakes and raise our ambitions.