The relationship between Turkey and the European Union (EU) has always been complicated than any other European countries seeking EU membership. Turkey, as an EU candidate since 1999 and a negotiating country since 2005, has always been interested in being a member of this community, even though many Turks still believe that Turkey’s membership to the EU is a distant dream. The two have been able to patch up their relationship, or at least the continuation of dialogue, despite various ups and downs over the years. Today, thirteen years after the start of negotiations, the relationship between the two is again on rocky ground.
Besides Turkish government’s hesitancy of doing its homework for accession, the mixed signals coming from the EU members also cause loss of hopes for a new momentum in Turkey-EU relations. In the midst of calls for ending Turkey’s EU membership process are mounting, the speaker will focus on the historical background of the relationship between the two in order to see whether there is a chance to revive the dormant relationship, and what steps can be taken to overcome the sticking points.
Period
16 Apr 2018
Held at
ISCTE - Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, Portugal