Turkey and the European Union : other complementary options?
Author(s)
Advisor
Heper, MetinDate
2001-09Publisher
Bilkent University
Language
English
Type
ThesisItem Usage Stats
171
views
views
71
downloads
downloads
Abstract
Is Turkey’s perception of membership in the European Union (EU) as an ‘ultimate
goal’ justified? Are there complementary options supporting Turkey’s membership
in the Union? These questions are the focus of the present thesis.
In order to find an answer to these questions, the present thesis displays the
shift in EU policies toward Turkey from 1997 to 1999 and its reasons. Furthermore
it proceeds to display the criteria Turkey has to fulfill before accession negotiations
can be opened. In particular, the work examines to what extent Turkey already
meets the political Copenhagen criteria and, therefore, what kind of a reform
process needs to be launched in order to fulfill the requirements not yet met.
While investigating complementary possibilities for cooperation, first
Turkey’s chances for cooperation with its Middle Eastern neighbors, as well as
with Israel and the Turkic Republics are taken up. The thesis will also examine,
whether Turkey’s membership in the organization of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation could be supportive of its prospective accession to the EU The work concludes that although the way to accession to the EU will be
rocky for Turkey, its actual membership is desirable. Turkey has to strive for
membership in the EU if it wants to strengthen its position within the international
system of states on the one hand and consolidate its democracy and economy on
the other. Turkey’s membership in the organization of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation could be complementary in many respects to its prospective
membership in the EU.
Keywords
TurkeyInternational Relations
European Union
Black Sea Economic Cooperation
Middle East
Turkic Republics
Central Asia