Pro-EU and eurosceptic circles in Turkey

Abstract

The recognition of Turkey as a candidate country for EU membership at the Helsinki Summit of December 1999 has provided a new basis for Turkey-EU relations after long years of association. Post-Helsinki dynamics have strengthened the position of pro-EU circles in Turkey. However, continuing debates between pro-EU and Eurosceptic circles still constitute an important domestic factor shaping the dynamics of Turkey's candidacy process. The interaction between these circles is characterized by cleavages on political and economic aspects such as compliance with the Copenhagen political criteria and the obligations of the customs union between Turkey and the EU. In fact, such debates are influenced particularly by the EU's stance over Turkey's membership. Positive signals from the EU help to strengthen the position of pro-EU circles. On the other hand, ambiguous signals and controversial declarations from Europe tend to have a negative impact on the credibility of the EU's conditionality, amplify the arguments of Eurosceptics, and thereby undermine Turkish public opinion's support for EU membership.