Turkey and EU Integration: Achievements and Obstacles

What has been achieved regarding Turkey’s efforts at integration to the EU and what obstacles remain to it achieving full membership? Like other developing countries, Turkey displays visible signs of advancement with rapid increases in living standards, greater mobility and the rapid spread of technology. Much of its legislation and political, economic and administrative systems are also now aligned to the EU and this process has undoubtedly contributed to democratization and modernization. At the same time problems in politics and society persist; the Gezi protests, limitations of freedom of expression, frequent occupational accidents in the mining and construction sectors, honour killings and political upheaval which has manifested itself most starkly with the recent coup attempt all call attention to the challenges facing a country in the process of change.

Charting the political, legal and economic relations between Turkey and the European Union since 1959 this book explores the relationship through phases such as association, customs union and candidacy. Each chapter covers a particular period in the relations and/or a theme which has both current and overall relevance to the conduct of the relations. In this way, the authors examine the impact of the EU in affecting change, what has been achieved and the obstacles that remain.

Yonca Özer is an associate professor in international relations and lecturer at the European Union Institute of the Marmara University in Istanbul. Her research interests comprise Turkey-EU relations, democratization, EU’s external relations and international political economy. She has participated in many international conferences in international relations and is the author of papers and articles on Turkey-EU relations.

Çigdem Nas is an associate professor in international relations and lecturer at the Department of Political Science and International Relations at the Yildiz Technical University in Istanbul. She also contributes to a non-governmental research organization called the Economic Development Foundation (IKV) specialized on EU studies. Her research interests comprise Turkey-EU relations, foreign policy, democratization, minorities, identity in international relations, migration and EU foreign policy. She has written articles on Turkey-EU relations and Turkish foreign policy.