Asst. Prof. Dr. Alexander Bürgin IUE 1 Summary Bürgin/Schimmelfennig (2007): Entrapped again: The Way to EU Membership Negotiations with Turkey; paper

Asst. Prof. Dr. Alexander Bürgin IUE

1

Summary Bürgin/Schimmelfennig (2007): Entrapped again: The Way to EU Membership Negotiations with Turkey; paper presented at University of Pittsburgh 25-27 January 2007

Norms as negotiation resource


2

Scientific Controversy: How to explain the result of negotiations?

Liberal Intergovermentalism– Convergence of interests– Structural negotiation power

Constructivist Supranationalism– Socialisation processes

Rationalist Supranationalism– Influence of supranational actors– Norms as negotiation resource


3

Research question: Explaining the opening of accession negotiations with Turkey

Divergence of member state preferences in the late 1990s concerning membership of Turkey

How can the agreement on accession negotiations with Turkey be explained in the face of the widespread reluctance among governments?


4

Thesis: Impact of norms explains the decision

Interaction among gvts was constrained by the EU’s community norms rather than by the member states’ relative bargaining power

Arguments based on community norms mobilized normative pressure – leading to the acceptance of accession negotiations with Turkey


5

Arguments based on community norms

Promises of the past: Association agreement 1963, final goal of custom union

Standards of liberal democracy: EU obliged to consider all applications according to the same standards of liberal democracy; thus Turkey’s application cannot be dismissed by reference to socio-economic or cultural incompatibility

Credibility: Non-respect of agreements harmful for the image of the EU as reliable partner


6

Luxemburg 1997

Context: – Decision to open negotiation with CEEC

Position and Arguments– Strong majority against EU-membership of Turkey– Consensus: close relationship with Turkey

Result– No candidate status, but: accession possible if Copenhagen

criteria are fulfilled– Opponents did not achieve to break with membership

perspective


7

Helsinki 1999

Context– Bad relationship between Turkey and EU

Position and arguments– Consensus: need to ameliorate relationship– Government changed in Germany– Position change in Greece due to Cyprus

Result– Interest constellation explains candidate status– Widespread perception: Turkey will not achieve the standards

and can be convinced of other option as membership


8

Explanation for Candidate Status

Impact of norms: Promises of the past forbid a break with membership perspective 1997

Interest constellation: explained the conferring of candidate status 1999

Candidate status as new norm: Strong commitment that only the fulfilment of Copenhagen Criteria decide about opening of accession negotiations – supporters of Turkey could now depoliticise the debate


9

Brussels 2004

Context– Copenhagen 2002: decision about opening of negotiations

based on Commission report– Positive Commission Report– Cyprus referendum failed because of Greek NO

Position and arguments– Opponents: Absorption capacity of the EU, recognition of

Cyprus– Supporters: refer to agreement of 2002 (De-politicisation)

Result– Opening 2005 (custom union with Cyprus required)


10

Brussels 2005

Context– Negative referendum in France and NL

Positions and arguments– Opponents: inclusion of privileged partnership in

negotiation framework, Cyprus as criteria

Result – Negotiation framework: full membership as goal– Recognition of Cyprus not part of the negotiation


11

Explanation for Opening of accession negotiations

No convergence of preferences or socialization process among member states

Promises and Agreements of the EU raises the negotiation power of the supporters of Turkey’s accession to the EU

Outlook: As long as Turkey continue to comply with EU norms and keep its own promises the EU will not discard the membership perspective

Documents

Asst. Prof. Dr. Alexander Bürgin IUE 1 Summary Bürgin/Schimmelfennig (2007): Entrapped again: The Way to EU Membership Negotiations with Turkey; paper