Membership by 2015?

That’s a Foreign Ministry hope or fantasy. I am not too pessimistic about the EU membership process but it is a bit early. Super-slowness is the rule and targetting 2015 is to fasten the process which could disorient all the parties:)
Ah well, while EU membership process is a little peripherialized in the current state of Turkish foreign policy making, still it makes news, still happenings. A huge roundup on related issues:
People gather under The Eiffel Tower, lighted in the colours ...

People gather under The Eiffel Tower, lighted in the colours of Turkey as part of events marking the “Season of Turkey in France”, in Paris October 6, 2009. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

Turkish FM: ?Turkey seeks EU membership by 2015?

Turkey is counting on joining the European Union by 2015 to bolster both its and the EU?s global role, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said on Friday. ?Even 2015 is too late, not only for us, it will be too late for the EU as well,? Davutoğlu said at the European Policy Centre in Brussels.

The Eiffel Tower is seen lighted in the colours of Turkey as ...

The Eiffel Tower is seen lighted in the colours of Turkey as part of events marking the ‘Season of Turkey in France’, in Paris October 6, 2009. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

Turkey and Armenia to re-establish ties – UPI.com

Turkey-EU relations: The return of ?high politics? by ALİ RESUL USUL

Turkey-EU relations and Turkey?s candidacy for the EU once more find themselves positioned at a precarious strategic crossroad.

The Turkish-French dialogue

by BERİL DEDEOĞLU
Last week, the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) and the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI) organized a colloquium titled ?French-Turkish Media Dialogue.? Participants from diverse backgrounds had the opportunity to discuss Turkey’s domestic political developments, foreign relations and especially the recent ?initiatives? implemented by the Turkish government.

EU membership will take more than foreign policy magic

by AMANDA AKÇAKOCA
Last Friday, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu was in Brussels updating European Union officials on Ankara’s recent foreign policy maneuvers. As part of the visit, I organized a breakfast meeting with the minister where he delivered a speech on Turkey and the EU achieving synergy in foreign policy. More than 200 people turned up to hear Davutoğlu explain that the EU would be a more dynamic and serious player with Turkey on board.

Review Article: Basak Taraktas (2008) ?A Comparative Approach to Euroscepticism in Turkey and Eastern European Countries?

by Changing Turkey

Basak Taraktas (2008) ?A Comparative Approach to Euroscepticism in Turkey and Eastern European Countries?, Journal of Contemporary European Studies, 16:2, 249-266.

Reviewed by Seckin Baris Gulmez

The Cyprus Problem: the ?perfect excuse? to derail Turkish membership bid? by Shyamal Kataria (Royal Holloway)

by Changing Turkey

Despite all the challenges facing Turkish accession into the EU, it seems as though it will be the ?Cyprus Problem? that may prove to be the ultimate stumbling block to its entry with its inability to implement the ?Ankara Protocol? displaying testimony to that.

A Last “Last Chance” for Cyprus?

by Yigal Schleifer

The International Crisis Group and its Turkey analyst, Hugh Pope, have had in recent years the thankless task of reminding the world (and the European Union, in particular) about the importance of solving the decades-old Cyprus problem. In a new report, ICG warns that time is really running out for a solution and that the island may be heading towards a permanent split. From the executive summary:

Turkish Foreign Policy after the end of Cold War ? from securitizing to desecuritizing actor by Paula Sandrin (University of Westminster)

by Changing Turkey

Paula Sandrin

PhD candidate at University of Westminster

Turkey?s current foreign policy, with its strong emphasis on good neighbourly relations and on the use of soft power, represents a significant transformation from the security-centered foreign policy previously conducted. Turkey is becoming a ?benign regional power? (Onis 2008). This distinct era in the conduction of external relations can be explained by the decrease of the role of the military in foreign-policy making, the prospect of membership of the European Union and the new vision put forward by the AKP (Justice and Development Party).

Entering a difficult time with the EU

by MİLLİYET SEMİH İDİZ
For days now, it has been noted in written commentaries that the results from Sunday’s elections in Germany will be very significant from the perspective of Turkey’s EU accession process.

EurActiv.com – Turkey rides on Irish ‘yes’ to promote EU entry | EU – European Information on Enlargement

Council of Europe “very concerned” over Turkey minority rights – Monsters and Critics

Turkey awaits new German government?s stance on its EU hopes – South Eastern Europe – The Sofia Echo

EU blow for Turkey

Turkey set to lose in Merkel victory – Herald Scotland | Comment | Trevor Royle

Germany?s election results not positive for Turkey by ALİ YURTTAGÜL

Aside from yielding interesting results, the German elections also signaled critical political shifts not just for the ruling power but in general as well.

A second Merkel era

by MİLLİYET SAMİ KOHEN
During this period of global economic crisis, it can be counted as a great victory when a party in power wins an election again. And in Germany, it is just such a victory that the CDU, the party led by Merkel, has enjoyed.

Germany – The Bitter-Sweet Tears Of Angela von Merkel

by Edward Hugh

German voters gave Chancellor Angela Merkel the green light for a second term on Sunday, along with a clear mandate to form a new government with the liberal Free Democrat Party (FDP). But just what exactly is the new government likely to do? Merlek has been quick to pour cold water on any idea of early tax cuts, ?I expect we?ll agree very quickly on tax policy, especially when you look at the leeway we have with the budget,? she is quoted as saying.

What’s so Christian about Germany’s Christian Democrats?

by Bobby Pierce

After German voters sent the Christian Democrats — led by Chancellor Angela Merkel — back to power with 13 more seats, it seemed appropriate to ask: In a secular country, what exactly makes it “Christian?”

?Coffee Futures?:a short documentary on [Europeanizing] Turkish society

by Changing Turkey

A short documentary, Coffee Futures (Turkish title Neyse Halim Ciksim Falim) by Dr. Zeynep Devrim Gursel (University of Michigan, Department of Anthropology).

INTERVIEW WITH PROF. DR. FUAT KEYMAN (by Aykut Kaya)

by Changing Turkey

E. FUAT KEYMAN is professor of International Relations at Koç University/İstanbul.  He is also the director of the Koç University Center for Research on Globalization and Democratic Governance (GLODEM).  He works on  democratization, globalization, international relations, civil society, and Turkey-EU relations. He has

Islam vs. Europe?

from Changing Turkey in a Changing World by Changing Turkey

Extracted from Gerard Delanty, ?Conceptions of Europe: A Review of Recent Trends?, European Journal of Social Theory, 2003, vol. 6, p.481.


Patriot Games, Pt. II

by Yigal Schleifer

A bit more to follow up my previous post about Turkey’s plans to purchase it’s first missile defense system (possibly American-made Patriots), a story which I think is going to develop in interesting ways, particularly in light of Iran’s recent missile tests and Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s upcoming visit to Tehran.

First, from a new Eurasianet analysis piece of mine:

The American Approach to the Turkish-Armenian Rapprochement


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