Report: EU in economic need for Turkey[fr] 

“During the upcoming 10-20 years, it is very hard for Europe to maintain its prosperity, protect its stability and be a global power without Turkey,” says Charles Emmerson - the World Economic Forum author of the Europe@Risk Report has underlined the benefits that Turkey could bring to the EU. 

The report, which also contains contributions from Sinan Ülgen of the think tank EDAM, CER's Charles Grant, Ahment EvinYilmaz Argüden and Chrysostomos Sfatos, argues that Turkey could help Europe to counter some of the major global risks to prosperity and security. Turkey could help the EU cope with globalisation, climate change and demographic change. The document also indicates that this may be endangered by a serious rift between the two.

"Turkey is perceived by many as a source of risk to Europe; it may be just the opposite, a potential source of major risk mitigation," said Thierry Malleret, director of the Global Challenges Team.

Main issues to be discussed at this year’s World Economic Forum are Turkey’s EU accession, energy security, global competitiveness and intercultural dialogue. The forum will take place in Istanbul on 23-24 November 2006.