Turkey’s accession to the European Union:

Official URL: http://risc01.sabanciuniv.edu/record=b1164373 (Table of Contents)

Turkey’s success in the membership negotiations is linked to its commitment to the Copenhagen criteria and its capacity to implement the acquis. However, the economic and political development in Turkey, improvement in respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, namely full convergence with the European acquis, is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for membership. Turkey’s membership includes other aspects which make the accession problematic. Immigration is such an area where economic, cultural, and security related concerns of the European public as well as leaders come to the fore; where the rhetoric of both illustrates the opposition sentiments towards accession. Since Turkey is a large, populated and predominantly Muslim country, the prevailing sentiment of a mass flow of Turks after membership and their negative impact on the labour markets, European culture, and internal security leads to hesitancy towards Turkey’s accession in the member states. European leaders often use this public concern for an exodus of a large Turkish population to mobilize the public, and they refer to public opposition to immigration when discussing Turkey’s membership. The debates on the application of free movement for Turkish labour also reflect other issues of the European societies such as unemployment, the integration of the immigrants, and the need for finding effective solutions to the aging European population. Therefore, European leaders have been restrained by both the demands of the public and the markets while taking steps on Turkey’s EU membership.