'european' is a constructed identity, which is barely even something people identify with.

Turkey is largely in Asia minor, by the ancient greek geographic defintion; this however has little utility in the modern age, where Aisa, Africa, and Europe as the ancient greeks knew them no longer hold any use.

In cultural terms, Turkey shares many similarities with other nations, In historical terms, and in political terms.

It of course also shares many things with it's Muslim neighbours. (many former parts of the Ottoman Empire)

I suppose the important questions to ask would be, does Turks consider themselves to be European? (though i guess most Irish people would say they are Irish, and barely register that they are European...)

If the question was, 'should Turkey be allowed join the EU' then that is an entirely different question of political and economic realities.

The answer is, not based on whether Turkey is part of Europe, it is whether Turkish entry to the EU would benefit both Turkey and the EU...