It simply physically isn't in Europe.

What? None of it?

Physically it IS considered to be in Europe, and in Asia - one of the few countries to be in two continents.

Maybe the for same reason that makes it a candidate member of the EU.

Why is Israel in the Eurovision song contest? it's got even less claim to being European than Turkey.
(And yes I know it is because it is a member of the EBU, and that a proportion of it's population is European.)

>Why is Israel in the Eurovision song contest?
Simply, because it's a member of Eurovision. You don't need to be in Europe to join that club.

It's both Europe and Asia as Istanbul is in Europe and that's where most people land. Happy Travels!

Europe is also considered part of Europe for some sporting events - in particular football (soccer).

This is for political reasons as very few other middle eastern countries would play them if they were in the Asian or African groups.

Thinking about it, Italy and Spain are technically part of Africa....

Yes. Clearly when you are in Istanbul, you ARE in Europe. Go across the Bosphorus and you are in Asia.

JR - are you having a party with wally3939?

Turkey is a member of the Council of Europe (since 1949), NATO (since 1952), an associate of the European Union (since 1963), its football and other sports teams play in the European championships, etc. That makes it a lot more European that certain countries closer to the center of Europe.

One might also wonder why Cyprus is considered to be in Europe since it is just off the coast of Syria.

Also has something to do with Roman emperor Constantine choosing to move the capital from Rome to Byzantium (Constantinople/Istanbul) in 395 AD, so as to be closed to Rome's frontiers.

Ever hear of the Holy Roman Empire - kept European civilisation going for a few hundred years after the Romans decided to give up

Now where's the the connection between the "Holy Roman Empire" (of german nation) an the Byzantine empire.

The ice is getting thinner

In other words, are France, Germany and most of Italy still part of western civilization despite of the roman empire deciding to "give up"?

(Sorry, but I just had to ask) ;-)

You must never forget that the Holy Roman Empire was neither Holy or Roman, and probably not much of an Empire either.

Germany was never part of the Roman Empire, Scandiwegia neither, nor Scotland or Ireland.

They left England (not that it was England at the time) in a bit of hurry around 450.

Right so only a loose federation in the later years.

Lot's of people with an F in history class here

There's a nice roman bathhouse in Weißenburg, north of Munich. Just how did it get there? Or the beautiful cities of Castra Augusta (Augsburg) or Trier.

Turkey is listed under Africa/Mid-East as well.