Turkey-EU 2008: Time for a New Swing in the Boring Plot?
Turkey-EU 2008: Time for a New Swing in the Boring Plot?

Summary/Abstract: After almost half a century of reluctance and few years of constructive dialogue, due to goodwill on the side of the EU and reform spirit on the side of Turkey, the mutual relations are again approaching point zero and Turkey’s membership prospects seem shady at the beginning of 2008. At the same time, the reasons for why should both Turkey and the EU work on Turkey’s future as a member have not passed yet – quite the opposite. What has diminished however is the determination on both sides to pursue the membership as the ultimate goal of negotiations. It is therefore legitimate to ask whether the Union and Turkey can search for alternative ways of strengthening their relations (and working towards a common interest so many times declared) until the suspension of negotiations will be revoked. This essay by no means suggests alternatives to membership – the goal is to reflect upon the possibility of closer alignment of external policies as one of options for not losing the energy generated by the opening of negotiations.

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