Turkey's Accession Stumble by The Globalist

How will Ankara respond?

Globalist Chart > Global Politics Turkey's Accession Stumble
By The Globalist \| Thursday, December 14, 2006

While joining the EU has proved to be something of a complex process for many of its recent members, no nation faces more of a steeple chase than Turkey. On December 11, 2006, the EU Commission voted to freeze negotiation on eight of the 35 chapters under discussion. Our special feature takes a closer look at the state of Turkey's EU accession.

One out of 35

Of the 35 chapters under negotiation for Turkey's accession into the European Union, only one has been concluded — chapter 25 on science and research.

Eight out of 35

The eight chapters in bolded red are all related to Turkey's dispute with Cyprus — and will be suspended until the EU Commission has determined negotiations in 2007 under UN auspices has reached a settlement.

Trouble with Cyprus

Turkey's continued problems with EU member Cyprus led the EU Commission to declare that Turkey failed to fully implement the Additional Protocol to the Ankara Agreement. Specifically, it cites Turkey's restriction to the free movement of goods through failure to open its ports and airports to Greek-Cypriots.

Insulting Turkishness

One further obstacle to Turkish EU accession talks that has received widespread media attention is article 301 of the Turkish penal code, which allows for the prosecution of academics and writers on charges of "insulting Turkishness." The latter includes disparaging remarks made towards the founder of the modern Turkish secular state, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

For more information, visit the Delegation of the European Commission to the USA.

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