Should Turkey be allowed to join the EU?
It is a question which has caused great division. There are those who are in favour of expanding the union; in an era where Islamophobia is on the rise, Turkish entry could help bridge the gap between Europe and Islam.
Turkey is also seen as being an ally of critical strategic importance to Europe and the United States, a gateway to the volatile Middle East. The state has played a major role in bringing peace to neighbouring Iraq through their efforts to quell the resistance of Kurdish seperatists.
Then there is the counter-argument. Some see the country as having more in common with Islamic Asia than Europe, therefore it is argued that Turkish culture would not be compatible with the rest of Europe.
Then there is the immigration issue: many Europeans are worried at the scale of immigration in recent years and with the introduction of 70 million new EU citizens, some fear a new influx of migrants.
The United States and the UK are pressuring Europe to accept the Turks. Countries such as France and Germany are against their inclusion.
But aside the cliched pros and cons, what will Turkish membership really mean, both for the EU and Turkey?
