In the grand-scale battle of Brexit playing out on the global geopolitical landscape, each of the parties involved plays whatever card it can. One of the aces up the sleeve of Brexiteers is the current refugee crisis in Europe, in particular the threat of a new influx of asylum seekers looming over the European Union in case Turkey is granted a visa-free travel regime.
Campaigners supporting Britain’s exit from the euro bloc have already launched a massive information attack by publishing posters that say “Turkey (population 76 million) is joining the EU” alongside a picture of a British passport, clearly hinting at a new wave of migration. In an attempt to soothe the public’s fears, UK Prime Minister David Cameron said there was no point in discussing these sorts of issues as Turkey, reluctant as it is to implement the required political reforms, would not qualify for EU membership “until the year 3000”. European Commission officials seem to share Cameron’s opinion citing Turkey’s hesitant pace of progress implementing the key requirements set out by the EU in exchange for granting visa-free travel in the Schengen zone for Turkish citizens.
Turkey has openly refused to change its controversial anti-terrorism regulations that are often used to detain journalists and academics criticizing the Turkish government. Moreover, Turkish PM Ahmet Davutoglu, who was the main architect of the EU-Turkey migrant deal, has been reportedly forced to resign from office. Turkey first applied for membership in the former European Economic Community back in 1963. However, so far the country has decidedly failed to meet the European standards, especially in areas such as freedom of speech and media.
