Vincent Morelli
Section Research Manager
October 2010 marked the fifth anniversary of the European Union’s decision to proceed with formal negotiations with Turkey toward full membership in the Union. It also marked the beginning of the annual period when all three European Union institutions, the Council, Commission, and Parliament provide their assessment of the progress Turkey had made or failed to accomplish in the accession process over the previous year and to issue recommendations on whether and how Turkey’s accession process should proceed. The EU Commission released its assessment report on November 9, 2010. The Council followed with their “conclusions” on December 14, 2010. Neither institution provided the kind of positive endorsement of the accession talks that pro-EU supporters in Turkey would have hoped for leading some to believe that the EU might be losing interest and that some in Turkey would become even more disillusioned with the EU. The European Parliament is expected to issue its report sometime in March 2011.
Turkey was the topic of a great deal of attention throughout 2010. Significant political and economic developments took place in Turkey, including the passage of the September 12, 2010 referendum to amend the Turkish constitution that many argued would strengthen Turkey as a more liberal and democratic country. In addition, an emerging activism in Turkey’s foreign policy, driven by its Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, to establish Turkey as a more independent regional influence has raised questions, and some say apprehensions, in Europe and the United States about changes in Turkey’s global orientation.
Despite the changes taking place in Turkey, its EU accession process continued at a relatively slow pace. Only one additional chapter of the EU’s rules and regulations known as the acquis communautaire was opened in 2010 leaving some to speculate that Turkey’s accession negotiations with the EU were heading for a political and technical stalemate. The principal issues regarding Turkey’s accession continue to be what the EU believes has been too slow of a pace for implementing critical reforms within Turkey and possibly even a few steps backward in the area of press freedoms; Turkey’s failure to extend diplomatic recognition to Cyprus or 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; a growing skepticism on the part of many Europeans whether Turkey should be embraced as a member of the European family fueled, in part, by 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; and a perceived ambivalence toward the EU by some in the current Turkish leadership and a growing segment of its population. In fact, for the first time comments among Turks questioning Turkey’s need to join the EU have begun to be heard on a more public and regular basis.
This report provides a brief overview of the EU’s accession process; Turkey’s path to EU membership and the impact of the Cyprus problem. The U.S. Congress has had a long-standing interest in Turkey. Although many Members have expressed support for Turkey’s membership in the EU, congressional concerns with several of Turkey’s recent foreign policy developments have surfaced. The 112th Congress will likely continue to review Turkey’s relations with the U.S., the impact of the EU accession process on internal political and economic reforms in Turkey, and Turkey’s apparent intent to become a more independent regional influence and foreign policy partner of the West.
Date of Report: January 10, 2011
Number of Pages: 18
Order Number: RS22517
Price: $29.95
Follow us on TWITTER at http://www.twitter.com/alertsPHP or #CRSreports
Document available via e-mail as a pdf file or in paper form.
To order, e-mail Penny Hill Press or call us at 301-253-0881. Provide a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number, expiration date, and name on the card. Indicate whether you want e-mail or postal delivery. Phone orders are preferred and receive priority processing.
Section Research Manager
October 2010 marked the fifth anniversary of the European Union’s decision to proceed with formal negotiations with Turkey toward full membership in the Union. It also marked the beginning of the annual period when all three European Union institutions, the Council, Commission, and Parliament provide their assessment of the progress Turkey had made or failed to accomplish in the accession process over the previous year and to issue recommendations on whether and how Turkey’s accession process should proceed. The EU Commission released its assessment report on November 9, 2010. The Council followed with their “conclusions” on December 14, 2010. Neither institution provided the kind of positive endorsement of the accession talks that pro-EU supporters in Turkey would have hoped for leading some to believe that the EU might be losing interest and that some in Turkey would become even more disillusioned with the EU. The European Parliament is expected to issue its report sometime in March 2011.
Turkey was the topic of a great deal of attention throughout 2010. Significant political and economic developments took place in Turkey, including the passage of the September 12, 2010 referendum to amend the Turkish constitution that many argued would strengthen Turkey as a more liberal and democratic country. In addition, an emerging activism in Turkey’s foreign policy, driven by its Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, to establish Turkey as a more independent regional influence has raised questions, and some say apprehensions, in Europe and the United States about changes in Turkey’s global orientation.
Despite the changes taking place in Turkey, its EU accession process continued at a relatively slow pace. Only one additional chapter of the EU’s rules and regulations known as the acquis communautaire was opened in 2010 leaving some to speculate that Turkey’s accession negotiations with the EU were heading for a political and technical stalemate. The principal issues regarding Turkey’s accession continue to be what the EU believes has been too slow of a pace for implementing critical reforms within Turkey and possibly even a few steps backward in the area of press freedoms; Turkey’s failure to extend diplomatic recognition to Cyprus or 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; a growing skepticism on the part of many Europeans whether Turkey should be embraced as a member of the European family fueled, in part, by 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; and a perceived ambivalence toward the EU by some in the current Turkish leadership and a growing segment of its population. In fact, for the first time comments among Turks questioning Turkey’s need to join the EU have begun to be heard on a more public and regular basis.
This report provides a brief overview of the EU’s accession process; Turkey’s path to EU membership and the impact of the Cyprus problem. The U.S. Congress has had a long-standing interest in Turkey. Although many Members have expressed support for Turkey’s membership in the EU, congressional concerns with several of Turkey’s recent foreign policy developments have surfaced. The 112th Congress will likely continue to review Turkey’s relations with the U.S., the impact of the EU accession process on internal political and economic reforms in Turkey, and Turkey’s apparent intent to become a more independent regional influence and foreign policy partner of the West.
Date of Report: January 10, 2011
Number of Pages: 18
Order Number: RS22517
Price: $29.95
Follow us on TWITTER at http://www.twitter.com/alertsPHP or #CRSreports
Document available via e-mail as a pdf file or in paper form.
To order, e-mail Penny Hill Press or call us at 301-253-0881. Provide a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number, expiration date, and name on the card. Indicate whether you want e-mail or postal delivery. Phone orders are preferred and receive priority processing.
