It has been more than fifty years since Turkey applied for European Economic Community (EEC) membership on 31 July 1959 and has been a candidate country since 1999. Nowadays, despite Turkey’s efforts to reform their system, is still not a member of the European Union. In order to become a Member of the European Union, Turkey have been reforming their economic and political system. The Accession of Turkey to the European Union will be challenging for both. However, if well managed, this can be a big opportunity for the EU and Turkey.
Table of Contents
Introduction
EU-Turkey Relations: Historical Background
Possible Impact of Turkey’s Membership for the EU
a. Common Foreign and Security Policy
b. Economic Impact
Is Turkey a Problematic Candidate?
a. Economic Criteria:
b. Political Criteria
European Identity and Turkey: Cultural Issues
Conclusion
Research Objective and Core Themes
This paper aims to explain the significant impact of Turkey’s potential accession to the European Union and analyze the complex issues and challenges that have caused decades of delay in this process.
- Historical evolution of EU-Turkey relations
- Economic and strategic implications of Turkish membership
- Evaluation of the Copenhagen Criteria compliance
- Political challenges including human rights and governance
- Cultural and religious identity dynamics
Excerpt from the Book
Possible Impact of Turkey’s Membership for the EU
As stated in the EU Commission report, ‘enlargement is one of the EU's most powerful policy tools. It serves the EU's strategic interests in stability, security, and conflict prevention. It has helped to increase prosperity and growth opportunities and to secure vital transport and energy routes.’ This shows that, there are many advantages for the EU to give full membership to Turkey. This will make the EU stronger and have a significantly large influence in the international arena. According to the EU Commission report (Issues Arising from Turkey’s Membership Perspective), the accession of Turkey is different from previous enlargement because of Turkey’s large population size, the geographical location, the cultural and religious characteristics of Turkey and its military potential. Turkey’s population is nearly seventy five million, with a 775,000 km land size and a huge Muslim population. Turkey’s accession is significant for Europe because by accepting Turkey it means that Europe is open to the Islamic world. Moreover, Turkey has geographical borders with Armenia, Iran, Iraq, Syria and the EU, thus if Turkey join the EU there will be a bridge between East and the West. In this section I will discuss the possible influence of Turkey’s full membership in the EU’s and especially on the (a) common foreign and security policy, (b) the political impact, and (c) the economic impact.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Outlines the historical context of Turkey's application since 1959 and introduces the research focus on the impacts and challenges of potential accession.
EU-Turkey Relations: Historical Background: Traces the evolution of the partnership starting from the 1963 Ankara Agreement through the Additional Protocol and later developments.
Possible Impact of Turkey’s Membership for the EU: Examines the potential advantages and shifts in EU external relations, specifically regarding foreign policy, security, and economic influence.
Is Turkey a Problematic Candidate?: Analyzes Turkey’s compliance with the Copenhagen Criteria, focusing on economic progress and the challenges within the political domain.
European Identity and Turkey: Cultural Issues: Investigates the influence of cultural and religious identity on the accession debate and how these factors shape European perceptions.
Conclusion: Synthesizes the arguments, noting that while accession offers strategic benefits, significant political and institutional hurdles remain for Turkey.
Keywords
Turkey, European Union, Accession, Copenhagen Criteria, Ankara Agreement, European Integration, Economic Impact, Political Criteria, Human Rights, Foreign Policy, Cultural Identity, Geopolitics, Reforms, Customs Union, Membership
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research?
The paper examines the long-standing and complex process of Turkey's potential accession to the European Union, specifically exploring why the process has faced decades of delay.
What are the primary thematic areas covered in the analysis?
The core themes include the historical background of EU-Turkey relations, the potential economic and security benefits for the EU, Turkey's adherence to the Copenhagen Criteria, and the impact of cultural and religious identity.
What is the main research question or objective?
The main objective is to identify the crucial impacts of Turkey's membership and explain the specific political, economic, and cultural issues that have hindered the accession process.
Which scientific or analytical methods are employed?
The author utilizes a qualitative analytical approach, reviewing EU commission reports, historical agreements, academic literature, and current events to evaluate Turkey's institutional progress.
What topics are addressed in the main body of the work?
The main body covers the strategic importance of Turkey's geography, its economic transition, human rights performance, the Cyprus issue, and the role of cultural perceptions in the EU enlargement debate.
Which keywords best characterize this document?
Key concepts include Turkey, European Union, Accession, Copenhagen Criteria, Geopolitics, Economic Impact, Human Rights, and Cultural Identity.
How does the author view the economic criteria in relation to the accession process?
The author suggests that while Turkey has made significant strides in creating a functioning market economy, instability and fiscal policy challenges remain, although economic hurdles are often less critical than political ones.
What significance is attributed to the Gezi Park protests and subsequent events?
The author views these events as critical moments that highlighted ongoing human rights issues and political volatility, which in turn complicated Turkey's negotiations with the European Union.
How does the author summarize the identity debate surrounding Turkey?
The author discusses the "clash of identities," noting that Europe's historical roots and the perception of Turkey as a Muslim-majority country create significant obstacles regarding what defines "European" standards.
- Citation du texte
- Jovanna Yiouselli (Auteur), 2014, Why is the accession of Turkey so important for the European Union?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/282433
