1. EU enlargement and Turkey’s
application for membership
Lea Hannibalsen
David Mircea Bucur

2. 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.

3. 2004 Enlargement: Expanding East
•Estonia
•Latvia
•Lithuania
•Poland
•Czech Republic
•Slovakia
•Hungary
•Slovenia
•Cyprus

4. 2007 Enlargement: Romania and Bulgaria
•Romania
•Bulgaria

5. Who’s joining next?
•Iceland
•Croatia
•Serbia
•Bosnia and Herzegovina
•Montenegro
•Kosovo
•Albania
•Turkey

6. 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.

7. 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?

8. 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).

9. 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?

10. 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?).

11. 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.

12. 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