EU enlargement and Turkey’s

application for membership

Lea Hannibalsen

David Mircea Bucur

Enlargement: The accession process

Copenhagen Criteria (1993):

Political: rule of law, stable institutions, democracy, respect for human rights.

Economic: functional market economy.

Legal: EU laws and practice. Adherence to the terms of a political, economic and monetary union.

Joining the EU is a 3 stage process:

1. A country is offered a prospect of membership.

2. The country is given official candidate status.

3. Formal membership negotiations.

2004 Enlargement: Expanding East

•Estonia

•Latvia

•Lithuania

•Poland

•Czech Republic

•Slovakia

•Hungary

•Slovenia

•Cyprus

2007 Enlargement: Romania and Bulgaria

•Romania

•Bulgaria

Who’s joining next?

•Iceland

•Croatia

•Serbia

•Bosnia and Herzegovina

•Montenegro

•Kosovo

•Albania

•Turkey

Turkey: Timeline

1959: Turkey applies for associate membership of EEC.

1963: Ankara Agreement signed, aiming to enter a customs union.

1987: Turkey applies for full EEC membership.

1995: Customs union founded between Turkey and the EU.

1997: Council declares Turkey eligible to become a member state.

2004: Council defines conditions for opening accession negotiations.

2005: Negotiations formally opened.

Turkey and European Union

- Long-term process with shifting attitudes from the EU

towards a full membership for Turkey.

- Applied for membership of the EEC in 1987 (association

agreement with EEC in 1963) and the accession

negotiations froze in 2006.

- Turkey has made great progress pursuing EU standards

yet they lack several important areas(commission

progress report 2005).

- Why not Turkey?

Pros and preferences for a Turkish

membership in the EU

- The emergence of democracy and vibrant

economy in Turkey.(Enlargement Policy; the spread of liberal democratic ideas and market

economy principles).

- A reinforcement of Security.(Maintaining security in the eastern Mediterranean, role model for

neighbouring Islamic states. May help to create security and stability in

the European continent. Geographical location).

Concerns and problems regarding a full

membership for Turkey

The conflict with Cyprus and Greece

Conditionality and criteria issues

Geographical and Cultural issues

Association partnership instead of full

membership?

Attitudes towards Turkish membership

- Attitude among European citizens.(Four factors which can explain attitudes: Economic costs and

benefits, cultural differences, political ideology and the general attitudes

towards the EU).

- Perspectives of the Turkish elite.(Opinions on membership. Political and cultural issues. Reflection on

rejection and future prospect. Cost and benefits. Any concerns?).

Statistic view of

the 27 member

states support for

Turkish accession:

- The countries who are

most supportive are the

two newest members:

Romania and Bulgaria

- Among the countries

who are least

supportive we find

France and Austria.

Both countries are likely

to have referendums

about the Turkish

accession.

Further reading

European Commission key documents

http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/candidate-

countries/turkey/key_documents_en.htm

2004 enlargement

http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/enlargement/2004_and_2007

_enlargement/e50017_en.htm

2004 and 2007 Enlargement documents/links

http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/enlargement/2004_and_2007

_enlargement/index_en.htm

General information regarding Turkey and the EU

http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/countries/detailed-country-

information/turkey/index_en.htm