Josipovic says Turkey would be EU member, if economy were only criterion

President of Croatia Ivo Josipovic, whose country started European Union negotiation talks at the same time as Turkey and becomes a full member of the bloc on Monday, thinks that Turkey would have acquired a seat in the 27-nation-bloc if the economy had been the only criterion for accession. “If the economy was the only criteria for EU membership, Turkey would have acquired it before us," Josipovic said. Stating that Turkey is very connected to the European tradition and history, but at the same time it has close relations with the East, Josipovic said that it could be of strategic interest to the EU to have Turkey together with other European countries.