Romania and Bulgaria, who have by far the worst human rights’ records in the EU were prioritized over Turkey when they were granted the right of accession, joining the EU in 2007. The EU has in the past rewarded states that have made a big effort to democratize and change policy in order to be allowed in to the EU, and yet member states have only taken these steps after being issued hope from EU elites themselves that there was a strong chance of success in their application. By essentially procrastinating on Turkey's case, the EU are discouraging Turkey from making the required changes to their legislature and norms and thus hindering their chances of accession; and yet there is not much point in doing so at present as EU elites seem hostile to Turkey ever being a future member state. Countries such as Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic were pressurized to reform at a rapid pace after being promised by the EU they would likely be in the EU in a relatively short period of time; Turkey has been given no such promises and so spending vast quantities of time and resources in preparing to make similar changes would be likely to be a poor investment. Turkey should have even more 'right' to be in the EU as these states, as it formally applied for membership long before these states and should thus be given priority over them, not discouragement about future prospects of joining even as these states have since acceeded to the union. It is the EU's attitudes and hostility to future membership that has hindered Turkey's bid for membership and has made efforts to appease Brussels essentially pointless.

"The Muslims see Turkey’s membership as a breaking point in the vicious circle in the relations with the West. Palestine, Chechnya, Iraq, Bosnia, Nagorno-Karabakh, Afghanistan, Lebanon and other problems have led to great despair among the Muslims towards the West. The Muslims mostly don’t believe the West is sincere and fair. The people on the streets of Muslim countries think that they are always deceived, their cities are bombarded, their natural resources are usurped, and their governments are serving to the West. Within this dark picture, Turkey’s full membership on equal terms to one of the most important institutions of the Western world, the EU, is seen as a miracle by the Muslim world. Turkey’s full membership will end the despair and prove that fair and equal relations with the West are possible."^[1].

"In addition to these, Turkey is the best proof that secular governance, democracy and liberal economy do not contradict with Islam. While the Turks can be more devout than the Iranians in their daily lives, they are also democrat, secular and liberal. They have the world’s 17th biggest economy even though they are Muslims. Although they don’t have considerable natural gas and oil resources, they are competing with the West by training their manpower. Their mentality of Islam is not based on revenge or hatred but cooperation and tolerance. Turkey is one of the exceptional Muslim countries where al-Qaeda has no serious roots. For Turks, Osama bin Laden is a terrorist and al-Qaeda commits terrorism. They hold the idea that they can go to the heaven not by killing others but by helping people live. In short, Turkey represents just the opposite of what al-Qaeda represents. Of course, Turkey’s model is not perfect. However, it is the only model at hand. It is the only model to be used against al-Qaeda apart from using violence and force. Many presidents in the Muslim world, including the presidents of Algeria, Palestine, Indonesia and Pakistan, have openly stated that they see Turkey as a model. Because they want to be like Turkey and consolidation of Turkish model will also consolidate the hopes of the Muslim countries."^[2].

1. ^ http://www.turkishweekly.net/article/149/turkey-s-eu-membership-and-the-muslim-world.html
2. ^ http://www.turkishweekly.net/article/149/turkey-s-eu-membership-and-the-muslim-world.html