European Union Enlargement: A Status Report on Turkey’s Accession Negotiations

Vincent Morelli
Section Research Manager

October 2009 marked the fourth anniversary of the European Union's decision to proceed with formal negotiations with Turkey toward full membership in the Union and launched the annual period when all three European Union institutions, the Council, Commission, and Parliament, were required to assess the progress Turkey had made or failed to accomplish in the accession process and to issue recommendations on whether and how the process should continue. 

Many "Turkey-skeptics" saw the end of 2009 as a deadline for Turkish action that would have marked a critical juncture for the future of Europe's relationship with Turkey. At issue was not only the positive progress Turkey had achieved in meeting the requirements of the EU's acquis communautaire but whether a specific lack of progress by Turkey would force EU member states into a difficult debate pitting loyalty to another member state, being shunned by a candidate for Union membership, versus Europe's long-term strategic interests in Turkey. The principal issues regarding Turkey's accession center around what the EU believes has been too slow of a pace for certain critical reforms within Turkey; a perceived ambivalence toward the EU by the current Turkish leadership; Turkey's failure to live up to its agreement to extend the benefits of its customs union with the EU to Cyprus, including the continued reluctance by Turkey to open its sea and air ports to Cypriot shipping and commerce until a political settlement has been achieved on Cyprus; and a continued skepticism on the part of many Europeans about whether Turkey should be embraced as a member of the European family. Further complicating the attitude toward Turkey was the lack of a settlement of the political stalemate on Cyprus and the ongoing debate within parts of Europe over the implications of the growing Muslim population in Europe and the impact Turkey's admission into the Union would have on Europe's future. Thus, the talk once again was of a potential "train wreck," the suspension of negotiations, revised talk of a different relationship with Turkey, and renewed expressions of doubt over whether Turkey should ever be admitted into the Union. 

On October 15, the European Commission issued its fourth formal report on Turkey's accession progress followed by the EU Council, which issued its conclusions on Turkey's progress on December 8. Both 2009 reports, like their previous reports, were marked by a mixed assessment of Turkey's accomplishments thus far in working through the various chapters of the accession process that have been opened. The reports noted some progress in judicial reform and relations with the Kurds and Armenia, but little progress in other areas such as media freedoms. Contrary to some views within Europe, neither the Commission nor the Council viewed their 2009 reports as any more significant or important than previous annual reports. 

In February 2010, the EU Parliament completed its review of Turkey's progress and adopted a resolution regarding the Union's enlargement strategy. The Parliament's assessment, although similar to that of the Commission and Council, did include rather tough language in its accompanying resolution. 

During this period, unification talks continued between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, but an overall settlement remained elusive. Short of such a settlement, Turkey was unwilling to open its ports to Cyprus. Although the debate in all three institutions was animated in part, the Union clearly decided to defer any difficult decisions regarding Turkey's accession negotiations to a later time. .


Date of Report: April 5 2010
Number of Pages: 17
Order Number: RS22517
Price: $29.95

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