Is Turkey an EU country?
Turkey is not a member of the European Union (EU), but it has been a candidate country for a long time. Turkey has already applied for EU membership in 1987, and official membership negotiations began in 2005. However, the negotiations have progressed slowly and have been frozen from time to time due to various political and economic reasons.
The relationship between Turkey and the EU
The relationship between Turkey and the EU is complex and multi-level. Turkey has been a member of the EU customs union since 1995, which means that Turkey and the EU have eliminated tariffs between industrial products. This has strengthened economic ties and increased trade between the parties.
Challenges of membership negotiations
Turkey’s EU membership negotiations have faced several challenges. These include, among others, human rights issues, restrictions on freedom of expression, compliance with the rule of law and political tensions. In addition, the dispute between Turkey and Cyprus has been a significant obstacle to the progress of the negotiations.
Current situation
In the current situation, Turkey’s EU membership negotiations are practically at a standstill. The EU has expressed its concern about Turkey’s human rights situation and the state of democracy, which has led to the suspension of negotiations. On the other hand, Turkey has also expressed its frustration with the slowness of the negotiation process and the demands set by the EU.
Future prospects
The future of Turkey’s EU membership is uncertain. Although both sides have expressed their desire to continue cooperation, it is unclear when and how the negotiations could progress significantly. It is possible that the relationship between Turkey and the EU will develop in other ways, for example through economic cooperation or strategic partnerships.
More information
You can read more information about the relations between Turkey and the EU and the membership negotiations from the following sources:
