EU Enlargement and Turkey

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Sectoral Strategies : EU- enlargement ; Turkish enlargement policy

June 2011

Index.

EU’s communication enlargement Policy                                                    3

Background                                                                                        3

The process                                                                                         5

Turkey’s European Union communication strategy.                                  7

Turkey’s prospective as a possible member of the EU                       7

Date Map                                                                                            7

Financial help from the EU to Turkey                                                10

EU-Turkey Civil Society Dialogue                                                     12

Transformation of Turkey                                                                           13

Turkey’s Identity and Security Culture in the Path to Europe            13

The Role of the USA                                                                           17

Conclusions                                                                                                    20

Bibliography                                                                                                  21

  1. EU’s communication enlargement Policy

Background

Since the Commission adopted its Communication Strategy for Enlargement in May 2000, the dynamic of the accession process has accelerated.  Given this timeframe, it is all the more important that the opportunities presented by enlargement be understood in the present and future member states. “Eurobarometer” surveys indicate that the importance of enlargement is gradually being understood in the existing Union, but there remains a widespread ignorance about the candidate countries, which hampers public support for the process. In addition, while public support for enlargement remains relatively high in the candidate countries, misperceptions persist, which give rise to fear and concerns that need to be addressed.

Up to now, the preparations for enlargement were based on two tracks: the pre-accession strategy and the accession negotiations. The development of the communication strategy is now the third track in the preparations for enlargement.

The Commission Communication in May 2000 set clear objectives for the communication strategy. The overall aim is to inform people in the 15 member states and 13 candidate countries of the process and consequences of enlargement. The activities in the candidate Turkey as a member of the EU countries necessarily set enlargement in the context of a larger effort to increase knowledge of the EU. Activities in the member states can build on a longer history of EU-related information, but require a new focus on issues raised by the enlargement process, in the same way as other campaigns have focused on the Single Market, the €, etc. In addition, useful and natural synergies must be exploited with the on-going debate on the Future of Europe.

In the member states there are three key objectives. In order of priority, these are:

1. To Communicate the reasons for enlargement to the public, including its likely impact and the challenges it poses. The outcome should be improved understanding of the enlargement process, which in turn should assuage apprehensions about its impact.

2. To Promote dialogue at all levels of society between policy-makers and the public on issues related to enlargement. This should ensure that progress through the negotiations towards enlargement is accompanied by public understanding and support.

3. To Provide information about the candidate countries to help promote general understanding.

In the candidate countries there are three key objectives. These are:

1. To improve public knowledge and understanding of the European Union.

2. To explain the implications of accession for each country.

3. To explain the link between the pace of preparations for membership and the

progress of the negotiations. This should encourage the acceleration of the transposition of EU laws and the creation of the necessary administrative structures. It will also increase public understanding of the reasons why negotiations may proceed at different speeds in different candidate countries.

The implementation of the strategy is based on three principles, which are the key to its success:

1. Decentralization: the strategy is implemented in a decentralized manner in both the Member States and the Candidate countries, to ensure it is geared to the specific needs and conditions of each individual country.

2. Flexibility: in order to adapt to varying communication challenges arising from an essentially dynamic process.

3. Synergy: essential to ensure that the efforts deployed by the Commission, the European Parliament, the Member States, and other groups in society complement and reinforce each other.

The process

For half a century, the European Union has pursued ever-deeper integration while taking in new members. Most of the time, the two processes took place in parallel. A growing  has been part of the development of European integration right from the start. Today's EU, with 27 Member States and a population of close to 500 million people, is much safer, more prosperous, stronger and more influential than the original European Economic Community of 50 years ago, with its 6 members and population of less than 200 million.

Now, the EU, a community of values based on peace and freedom, democracy and the rule of law, as well as tolerance and solidarity is the world's largest economic zone. The wider internal market and new economic opportunities have increased Europeans' prosperity and competitiveness. Membership will only happen when the necessary requirements are met. A gradual and carefully managed enlargement process creates a win-win situation for all countries concerned.

Any European country which respects the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law may apply to become a member of the Union. The Treaty on European Union sets out the conditions.

Applying for EU membership is the start of the long and rigorous process. The official starting point is that a country submits an application - although this invariably arises out of an already strong bilateral relationship with the EU. A valid application triggers a sequence of EU evaluation procedures that may - or may not - result in a country eventually being invited to become a member. The speed with which each country advances depends solely on its own progress towards our common goals.

The application from a country wishing to join is submitted to the Council. The European Commission provides a formal opinion on the applicant country, and the Council decides whether to accept the application. Once the Council unanimously agrees a negotiating mandate, negotiations may be formally opened between the candidate and all the Member States. This is not automatic, though. The applicant country must meet a core of criteria before negotiations start.

The so-called "Copenhagen criteria", set out in December 1993 by the European Council in Copenhagen, require a candidate country to have:

  • Stable institutions that guarantee the democracy
  • A functioning economy market, as well as be able to put the EU’s economic laws in effect.
  • The ability to assume the obligations as an active member of the EU.
Join now!

In 1995 the Madrid European Council further clarified that a candidate country must also be able to put the EU rules and procedures into effect. Accession also requires the candidate country to have created the conditions for its integration by adapting its administrative structures. While it is important for EU legislation to be transposed into national legislation, it is even more important for the legislation to be implemented and enforced effectively through the appropriate administrative and judicial structures. This is a prerequisite of the mutual trust needed for EU membership.

In addition, the EU must be able to integrate new ...

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