The Turkish Republic and the EU

Abstract

On 6 October 2004, Turkey overcame the obstacle of the European Commission. The outcome of the report prior to the decision of the EU Council on whether or not to embark on membership negotiations with Turkey was positive. Turkey had been waiting for this verdict for almost 40 years. Some 40 years of talks with Europe shows the extent to which the will for a Europe with Turkey is rooted in its history. Forty years of talks ought to reassure those who fear that Europe is endlessly diluting itself, to the point of embracing every Mediterranean country. Actually, it was not enough for Turkey to express its wish to join the EEC, then the EU, for negotiations to begin. On 17 December 2004, the Council followed the Commission and suggested to the Turkish prime minister that negotiations on membership begin in October 2005. Turkey’s race to join Europe is one of endurance and will remain so. It has required much tenacity and perseverance for this country to adapt to Europe, and it still does, because the opposite is totally excluded.