Turkey and the EU: Is Symbiosis Possible?
The question of Turkey’s relations with the rest of Europe is one which has dominated (at least the headlines of Greek newspapers) for many years and seems set to do so for many more in the future. What is all the hoopla about? Fundamentally, the issue is a very simple one: it has to do with Turkey’s stated intention and willingness to accept the norms, values and the acquis of the European Union in order to accede to it one day. The difficulty lies in its ability to do so and to, a lesser extent, in the Union’s (sic. its member states and their population) willingness to absorb Turkey. As negotiations between the EU and Turkey have become more focused since Turkey has passed the threshold from candidacy to that of a country negotiating its accession, its state of preparedness in terms of making the requisite reforms has come to the fore. In other words, the acquis communautaire finds itself clashing with the Turkish acquis or way of governance which includes an undue influence by the