ABSTRACT
Relations between Turkey and the European Union (EU) are going through a critical and tumultuous period. The recent rapprochement between Turkey and the EU over the issue of stemming refugee flows promised progress in the relations. The refugee deal and the joint action plan between Turkey and the EU started a process of close cooperation and coordination of efforts with a view to stemming the flow of migrants towards the EU. Turkey's incapacity and the EC's reluctance to meet their commitments regarding the customs union might be regarded as the leading factors responsible for the malfunctioning of the association. Turkey's candidacy to the EU since 1999 has been a ground-breaking development in Turkey–EU relations since it triggered a process of intensive reform in Turkey with a view to fulfilling the conditions for opening accession negotiations. The Turkey–EU refugee deal showed the EU leaders in a bad light and attracted major criticism from the media and political groups.
