Turkey and the European Union: European Commission adopt Opinion, October 2004

On the basis of a comprehensive report assessing the situation as regards human rights, democracy, the rule of law and the protection of minorities, the European Commission recommended in October 2004 to start negotiations with Turkey to join the European Union. The decision as to whether negotiations should begin will be taken by the EU Member States at the European Council in December 2004.

The European Commission suggested a three pillar strategy to approach the negotiations. First, strengthened cooperation to reinforce and support the reform process in Turkey, second, negotiations adapted to the specific challenges related to Turkeys accession and finally a substantially strengthened political and cultural dialogue bringing people together from EU Member States and Turkey.

The Commission also presented an assessment of the effects of a possible accession of Turkey to the European Union, which concludes that such a prospect, while challenging for the EU and Turkey, could offer important opportunities for both if it is well managed.

The question of Turkey's membership of the European Union remains a controversial one with governments and other interests divided on the issue. The links in this In Focus provided a balanced range of the opinions on the subject. Further information can be found via the hyperlink at the bottom of the In Focus.

EU: Legislation and Policy Making

	European Commission: SEC(2004) 1201: 2004 Regular Report on Turkey's progress towards accession, October 2004
	European Commission: COM (2004)656 final : Communication from the Commission: Recommendation of the European Commission on Turkey's progress towards accession, October 2004

EU: Background

	European Parliament: Daily Notebook, 6.10.04: "Qualified yes" to opening negotiations with Turkey
	European Commission: EC Delegation in Turkey: EU-Turkey: Historical review
	European Commission: SPEECH/04/466: Olli Rehn: Speech: Turkey and the EU: a Common Future?, October 2004
	European Commission: SPEECH/04/440: Romano Prodi: The Commission's Report and Recommendation on Turkey's application, October 2004
	European Commission: DG Enlargement: Candidate countries: Relations with Turkey
	European Union Institute for Security Studies: Analysis, October 2004: Crossing the Bosporus
	European Economic and Social Committee: Press Release: CES/04/101: Turkey and the EU The EESC says 'yes' to membership negotiations - if a 'point of no return', notably regarding human rights, is reached by 31st December 2004
	European Commission: Press Release: Press Release: IP/04/1181 Commission recommends to start negotiations with Turkey under certain conditions, October 2004

International Organisation

Council of Europe: Press Release, No.313, 2004: Council of Europe parliamentarians vote to end monitoring of Turkey

National/regional/local official organisation

	Cyprus: Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Press Release: Cyprus: Christofias: Government in favour of Turkey's European perspective provided it fulfills the Copenhagen criteria, 12.10.04
	Cyprus: Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Press Release: Cyprus: Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus concerning the Recommendation of the European Commission on Turkey's progress towards accession, 11.10.04
	Finland: Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Speech: Finland: Turkey and the borders of Europe, 15.10.04
	Netherlands: Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Press Release: The Netherlands: Government's response to Commission reports regarding Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia, 15.10.04
	United Kingdom: Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Press Release: EU gives positive signal to candidate countries, 6.10.04
	Turkey: Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Turkey and the EU
	Poland: Office of the Committee for European Integration: Press Release: European Commission recommends start of accession negotiations with Turkey, 7.10.04
	Lithuania: Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Press Release: Lithuania: Lithuania supports EC recommendations on beginning of Turkey's accession to EU negotiations, 7.10.04

Stakeholder organisation

	Centre for European Reform: From drift to strategy: why the EU should start accession talks with Turkey, July 2004
	European Policy Centre: Issue Paper 16: Turkey - Ready for the EU, September 2004
	Centre for European Policy Studies: Turkey and the EU budget: prospects and issues, August 2004
	Centre for European Policy Studies: EU-Turkey Working Papers, 2004

Commercial publisher and media

	The Economist, No.8396, 9.10.04: Turkey and the European Union. To Brussels, on a wing and a prayer
	BBC News: Turkey EU entry as big as 'D-Day', 20.10.04
	BBC News: France split over Turkish issue, 13.10.04
	BBC News: EU paves way for Turkey to join, 6.10.04
	BBC News, Analysis: EU's Turkish challenge, 6.10.04
	Financial Times, 7.10.04: Brussels says 'Yes' to Turkish entry talks
	Financial Times, 2.10.04: Turkey's test for the Union
	Financial Times, 2.10.04: Chirac promises Turkey referendum
	Financial Times, 4.10.04: Turkey faces moment of truth
	Financial Times, 4.10.04: EU suffers enlargement fatigue after rapid spurt of growth
	Financial Times, 5.10.04: Question of accession inflames passions
	Financial Times, 5.10.04: Brussels could curb Turkish workers' movements
	Financial Times, 5.10.04: 'Turkey is becoming a re-religious society and trying to join a post-religious Europe'
	Financial Times, 6.10.04: Membership bid threatens fresh rift within Germany's SPD
	Financial Times, 6.10.04: Brussels to set tough conditions for Turkey talks
	Financial Times, 7.10.04: Yes to Turkey (editorial)
	Financial Times, 7.10.04: Tough conditions on negotiating threaten to offend Turks
	BBC News: Turkey hails EU entry progress, 6.10.04
	Financial Times, 7.10.04: Business sees entry as boost for economy
	The Economist, No.8396, 9.10.04: Turkey and the European Union. The coming crescent
	Financial Times, 7.10.04: Accession of such a large, poor country would change EU radically
	Financial Times, 8.10.04: Mutation of Turkish army helps EU drive
	Financial Times, 15.10.04: Raffarin attempts to allay fears over Turkey
	European Voice, Vol.10, No.34, 7.10.04: EPP poised to open door to Turkey's ruling party
	European Voice, Vol.10, No.34, 7.10.04: Turkish reform drive wins praise from Parliament
	euobserver.com: France and Germany offer strong support to Turkey, 27.10.04
	The Economist, No.8393, 18.9.04: Why Europe must say yes to Turkey
	The Economist, No.8393, 18.9.04: Special report: Turkey and the EU. The impossibility of saying no
	The Economist, No.8395, 2.10.04: Charlemagne: How terrorism trumped federalism
	RFE/RL: EU/Turkey: Commission Gives Qualified 'Yes' To Entry Talks, 6.10.04
	Financial Times, 7.10.04: EU paves way for entry talks with Turkey

Related Topic Guides / In Focus

	ESO: In Focus: European Commission President visits Turkey, January 2004
	ESO: Topic Guide: Turkey

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