ABSTRACT
The Turkish candidacy for European Union membership presents a formidable challenge for the Union. It is not a new issue, it all began about four decades ago with the Ankara Association Agreement (1963) and it has intensified since the positive decision on Turkey’s candidacy status at the Helsinki European Council in 1999. Despite the long time period that has elapsed since the Association Agreement, which already then envisaged membership for Turkey, much uncertainty prevails within the EU whether Turkey will eventually, or indeed ever, join. An affirmative answer would require a much deeper commitment to Turkey from the EU than that exhibited thus far. Up to now, the Union has delayed or avoided a deep commitment to Turkey except for affirming her association status and right to candidacy (Avcı 2002). Even the European Council’s decision in December 2004 stating that Turkey fulfils the Copenhagen political criteria and the opening of accession negotiations in October 2005, came with reservations and strings attached (Council of the European Union 2006; European Council 2004a).
