Why are EU business leaders so staunchly anti-Turkey?

[_Jumper_]

http://english.pravda.ru/world/20/91/365/12056_Turkey.html

<Such authoritative states as Great Britain and Germany, expressed their support to Turkey"s joining the EU. According to German Interior Minister Otto Shili, Turkey "can become a bridge between the West and the Moslem world".

Meanwhile, the CEOs of the biggest European companies share different opinion. According to the survey, conducted by United Parcel Service company, only 11 percent of businessman supported the idea of Turkey"s joining the EU. December 2004 will demonstrate if politicians take this opinion into account.>

[SmileyBoy]

1. From a Turk's perspective:

I don't know why the governments have changed their mind. I get the news from over there from my dad's family in Istanbul, and I've known some things about this in the past. I guess the UK and France, etc. were against Turkey joining the EU, but now they've changed their tone. I don't know why they did that, though. The previous belief on why they (the governments) didn't want Turkey in the EU was because of pent-up hatred of Turkey due to the domination of the Ottoman Empire, and the Brit's failed attempt to take control of Turkey after WWI.

Probably the reason the CEO's don't want it is because they still percieve Turkey as a poor country. But the Per-capita GDP of Turkey is over $7,000 US. Turkey is the richest country in the Middle East that doesn't have oil. The Turkish GNP was over $470 Billion in 2002. Maybe those CEO's need to do their research and see that Turkey is fast becoming a first-world country.

[GreyV]

2. Turkey has great potential...

Turkey has great potential. It is economically strong and mineral rich nation with extremely educated and modern population. This is seen by many in Europe as a threat. Europeans have come a long way since the 17th century imperial and colonial mindset, but some of it still remains. Plain and simple, it's not good for business. There is the xenophobic factor too. Muslims, even ultra-modern, ultra-secular, blue-eyed blonde Muslims such as Turks, are seen as a threat to European Christian foundations.

[SmileyBoy]

3. Most Turks aren't blond-haired and blue-eyed.

I'm not. I have somewhat olive skin and black, straight hair. Most Turks look (skin and hair colour-wise) like Iranians, Syrians and Iraqis.

[GreyV]

4. I know...

I know... but xenophobes don't care.