Turkey in the European Union: A Security Perspective – Risk or Opportunity?

Abstract

On 17 December 2004, the EU Heads of State announced that accession negotiations would commence with Turkey, over 40 years since Turkey made an application for associate membership. No other country seeking full membership of the European Union has stirred up so many passions in favour or against its entry as Turkey. While other studies have considered Turkey's potential political and economic obstacles to membership, this paper considers whether Turkey in the EU would present a security risk or security opportunity for the EU using the European Security Strategy as the main vehicle for analysis. In doing so this article also exposes pertinent issues about the security identity of the EU and its ability to fulfil its aspirations to take greater responsibility for global security matters. The author contends that Turkey presents both a security risk and opportunity for the EU but that her position by 2015, the earliest that a membership decision could be made, will be dependent on the future vision of the EU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]Copyright of Defence Studies is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)