Not quite getting the concept

I read this BBC article where Turkey's prime minister blasted the European Union for allegedly interfering in his country's internal affairs.

Now, it might sound like a simplistic case of a non-western country telling the imperialist west to mind its own damn business.

Except Turkey wants to join the EU.

The EU has rules and regulations. Turkey's government was considering a law to criminalize adultery. But the EU didn't endorse it and told Turkey so.

The Turkish prime minister said no one should use the EU as an excuse to pressure Turkey.

Um... I don't think he quite gets the concept. The EU is a club. It has entry standards. If you want to get in, you have to follow those standards. If you don't like the standards, then don't join. It's that simple.

Some countries don't like the onerous standards of such "clubs." For example, Zimbabwe didn't like the Commonwealth's rules that waging war on your own people is a bad idea.

So they weren't content in blaming the "racist" British (Mugabe's black opponents were denied food aid or beaten by thugs or arrested and tortured all on the orders of Tony Blair, of course). Instead of just whining about the horrible British, they quit the club. It was that simple.

Turkey needs to quit complaining. Either they adhere to European standards and join the club, or do whatever they want and deny themselves the benefits of membership.