The Copenhagen Criteria and the Challenge of Democratization in Turkey

The recent decision of the European Union (EU) at the Copenhagen summit to give Turkey a conditional date for accession review was less than what the Turkish government had hoped for. Previously at the Helsinki summit, the decision of the EU to include Turkey among the list of candidate countries for membership has eased tensions in the capitols of Western Allies. After two years of very cold relations the two sides seem to be moving toward better days. As a candidate for membership, Turkey has attained recognition from its European neighbors that it belongs in the European club of states – a status sought by Turkish and Ottoman governments for almost 150 years. However, unlike in the case of other candidate countries, accession talks were not to begin until Turkey completed a series of economic and political reforms. During the last year and a half, the Turkish governments succeeded in passing series of amendments to the Turkish Constitution and had hoped that the EU would grant Turkey a solid date in 2004, if not in 2003, for the start of accession negotiations. However, the outcome of the Copenhagen summit was to tell the Turks that their progress on democratization would be reviewed in December 2004. If at that time Turkish progress on Copenhagen criteria is judged favorably, the Commission would recommend start of accession negotiations without any further delay