Turkey on the Edges of the Convention on the ‘Future of Europe’

Abstract

Turkey has been the sole candidate country at the Convention on the 'Future of Europe' that has not yet started its accession negotiations for membership to the European Union (EU). Turkish participation, perhaps as a consequence, was somewhat limited and subdued. Public interest in the Convention, in contrast to Turkish-EU relations in general, was limited to a very small number of elite-led non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and media representatives. There was hardly any debate concerning institutional reform in the EU and the future of the EU itself - let alone a discussion of the content of the draft constitution released by the Praesidium of the Convention. Nevertheless, the Convention provided an opportunity to raise standards of transparency and consultation. For Turkish political parties and a small number of NGOs, the Convention was instrumental in forging closer - and often helping to develop new - contacts with their counterparts in EU member states.