Sir

Your Editorial “Turkey's evolution” (Nature 438, 1–2; 200510.1038/438001b), about the country's efforts to join the European Union (EU), states that “the opening of negotiations for EU membership offers the best hope for the continuing development of science in Turkey”. This view is common in Europe, but I believe the assumptions behind it lack solid support.

First, you assume that EU policies adopted by Turkey during membership negotiations will lead to more economic investment in Turkish science. Such investment is needed if Turkey is to close the gap with more developed countries. But the increase in the science budget, to US$300 million in a country of 70 million, is inadequate. The €250 million (US$292 million) that Turkey contributed towards the EU's Sixth Framework programme is not expected to be recouped. And even though policies prescribed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have reduced investment in the country's educational infrastructure (E. Voydova and E. Yeldan Comp. Econ. Stud. 47, 41–79; 2005), keeping to an IMF programme is a condition for Turkey's acceptance into the EU.

Second, although international scientific collaboration is crucial for scientific development in any country, the extent to which knowledge sharing and cooperation depends upon international economic and political relations is less clear. Some countries, such as Cuba, India and China, have achieved scientific progress in relatively independent economic or political circumstances. Political and cultural relations among countries at dissimilar levels of development might even impede progress on the weaker side — for example, through a ‘brain drain’ effect.

Last, I fear that entrusting all hope of development to the ambiguous political process of EU membership may undermine Turkey's existing — albeit weak — resolution to advance science.

The country needs a firm political resolution to implement long-term public investments in education and science, regardless of EU membership negotiations.