Turkey and the European Union: The Simple Complexity

Abstract

This article analyzes the simple complexity of Turkey’s EU membership issue, the burden of history, and the role of Greece. Obviously, on the one hand, the hostile past between Europe and Turkey may still reflect negatively throughout Turkey’s integration process as some circles want to see the EU as a Christian club and, therefore, want to exclude it from the EU enlargement. Turkey’s EU candidacy has become possible only after these circles have begun to lose their dominant power in the EU. Further, notwithstanding the positive role of Greece, Turkey must endeavor to resolve the outstanding problems, including Cyprus, that it has with Greece. As a means of overcoming these two obstacles, Turkey must improve its image as a democratic state worthy of participating fully in the European integration process.