EU-Turkey Relations: Changing Approaches

Abstract

The enlargement policy is important for the EU not only to extend its zone of peace, stability and prosperity, but also to increase its global competitiveness. Among the potential EU candidates, Turkey has a special place. As the only candidate that belongs to the group of newly emerging economic powers, Turkey may contribute significantly to the economic prosperity of Europe. Since its creation in 1923, Turkey showed an eager wish to belong to the European nations. Turkey adopted deep reforms in its constitutional, political and economic structure, and was finally able to start accession negotiations with the EU in 2005. Due to policies from both the Turkish and some EU countries’ side, however, the accession process slowed down and came to a stalemate. Since neither the EU, nor Turkey is interested in a breakup of the accession process, they started negotiation on some key issues, to keep the accession process alive. In the study we examine some of the most important issues of mutual interest – common foreign policy challenges (such as Syria); energy transport issues; mobility and visa free travel, customs union and other trade issues – and try to analyze their effects on the dynamics of EU-Turkey relations.

Keywords

• European Union
• Turkey
• accession
• customs union
• energy
• foreign policy