The EU and Turkey in a Twisted Marriage: Challenges of the European Union further Enlargement

Abstract

This paper is an effort to investigate the principal challenges associated with further enlargement of the European Union. The specific focus of the analysis is the case of Turkey as a real dilemma for the EU. The eastward expansion of the European Union poses multi-dimensional concerns. These concerns relate to political, economic, cultural and geostrategic delicate questions that are perceived as crucial issues for the Union. However, it should be pointed that this is a game that cannot be played unilaterally by a single actor such as the EU. It also depends on how Turkey will play the game of integration which –however- is principally led by the Union. Considering this, the paper is organised in four main sections. The first section introduces political challenges from the EU enlargement towards Turkey, the second section introduces economic challenges and it is followed by the two last sections with geostrategic and identity issues ending with some brief conclusions. Keywords: European Union; Turkey; Enlargement; Political Challenges; Economic Challenges; Geostrategic Challenges; Identity/Cultural Challenges.