| ID | 076528 |
| Title Proper | Turkey and the European Union |
| Other Title Information | troubled European or European trouble? |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Redmond, John |
| Publication | 2007. |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | This article examines EU-Turkey relations and considers the potential impact of the EU pronouncement at the December 2004 summit and the subsequent (reluctant)decision to begin negotiations in October 2005 on Turkey's efforts to become a member of the Union. It briefly summarizes the debate over Turkish accession and outlines the main arguments and positions of EU members and institutions. It then highlights the inadequacies of the alternatives to full membership that have been offered to Turkey in the past and expresses the concern that the EU's adoption of `flexible integration' may lead to Turkey being, at best, offered a `lower tier' form of EU membership in the future. It continues by arguing that concerns about Turkey's suitability for EU membership because it is Islamic and its lack of `Europeanness' are ill-founded and/or irrelevant and that the best way to facilitate Turkey's continued contribution to European (and world)security and its western orientation, is to allow it to join the EU as a full member. It concludes that the decision to admit a new member is primarily a political one and that Turkey should be allowed to join the EU in the immediate future. |
| `In' analytical Note | International Affairs Vol. 83, No.2; Mar 2007: p305-318 |
| Journal Source | International Affairs Vol. 83, No.2; Mar 2007: p305-318 |
| Key Words | Turkey ; European Union |