The issue of free movement of Turkish work force in the European Union member states encountered during the acession process and solution proposals

Additional protocol dated 23 November 1970 has provisioned thatTurkish workers would benefit from free labor movement and all social rightsprovided by the European Union to workers earliest 12 to latest 22 yearsafter Ankara Agreement (1976-1986). Turkey has expected that free labormovement would be realized with the Customs Union, but this did not happeneither.This is because EU is afraid of the free movement of Turkish labor inother member states. Nevertheless, EU commissioner charged withenlargement Olly Rhen said that Turkey would not be given free labormovement right before 2020, or that even free labor movement could berestricted forever.It is understandable that European Union member states, suffering fromeconomic recession for many years, and trying to solve increasedunemployment and social security problems that are worsened after 9/11attacks, are suspicious of the possibility of free movement of millions ofyoung workers with different cultural and religious background and mostlyhaving university degrees, who will seek better living standards in theircountries.However, many speculative interpretations are done on this subjectwithout supporting scientific evidence. There is sometimes exaggerated newsin the media of EU member states proclaiming migration from Turkey toEurope would reach unprecedented dimensions. These news interpret publicpolls without care and without scientific ground, and even claim that 25% ofTurkey?s population will migrate to EU after membership.The numbers revealed by scientific studies are far below these claims.An EU commission ?impact study? prepared in 2004 by reviewing scientificstudies reported that, estimates made scientifically forecast a net migration ofbetween 0.5 and 4.4 million from Turkey to EU-15 until 2030. This study hasalso concluded that, in order to reach the higher estimate of 4.4 million,researches had to force boundaries of their imagination.In other words, EU accession process and an eventual full membershipis very influential for solving social-economic problems, for attracting foreigndirect investments, and for increasing employment rates. As a result, it isunnecessary to think that millions of people would migrate from a Turkey thathas increased welfare levels and has achieved economical stability. Whenthe membership talks of other EU members like Portugal and Greece arelooked at, it will be seen that these countries also faced migration claims.However, the expected migration from this countries that had weakereconomies before full membership did not happen, and fears of migrationwere unnecessary. Expected migration levels from these countries, whoquickly developed during accession process, to the others did not happen.As a conclusion, a membership planned for Turkey without freemovement of workforce would be a serious double standard in terms ofeconomic integration theory, macro economical development, internationaleconomic realities, and socio-cultural integration. It is a reality that thissituation will be unfair to Turkey.