The European Union Integration Process and the Place of Turkey

Abstract

The European Union integration project, established to enlarge the political structure and power of the EU, has rapidly evolved according to the changing dynamics of the international system and has developed different strategies over time due to the problems accrued in the decision-making mechanism of the EU and the institutional weight brought by new members. Turkey has tried for inclusion into this process for fifty-four years with its application to the European Economic Community. The historical relationship between Turkey and the EU should be viewed as a challenging ideological engagement. Since the Ankara Agreement was signed in 1963, there have been some changes in political expectations on both sides, but the fact remains that neither Turkey nor the EU has desired to end this process. This paper evaluates Turkish–EU relations from the perspective of the integration process.

DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2013.v2n8p740