Franco-Turkish relations and Turkey's EU accession bid

Abstract

Turkey's European Union accession bid is a very critical issue for the future of the EU. Turkish EU accession is a challenge for both parties; it is a challenge for Turkey to reach the standards requested by the EU but it is also a challenge for the EU since allowing Turkey in would mean allowing the largest candidate ever in terms of population as well as one with the most distinct character. Having said this, it is important to underline that on the one hand, there are EU member states which are willing to accept this challenge and thus support the idea of Turkey becoming a full member of the EU. On the other hand there are member states which do not want to face this challenge for various reasons and instead want to offer Turkey a privileged partnership. One of these member states is France whose current President Nicolas Sarkozy opposes Turkey's EU membership. This dissertation explores the reasons behind Mr.Sarkozy's opposition and whether he is willing to soften his position on certain conditions. His recent proposal of a Mediterranean Union subsequently "Union of the Mediterranean" includes Turkey along with other Mediterranean countries. Hence this thesis analyzes what this proposal involves and the likely reasons for which Sarkozy wants to include Turkey in it. France, however, is not the only member state of the EU. Consequently the other countries' foreign policy towards Turkey is as important. Once the day arrives when the member states must decide whether to allow Turkey in, some countries will hold referenda while others will not. The final chapter of this dissertation discusses the extent to which various member states are willing to accept Turkey in the Union and to which extent others are willing to reject it. This in turn leads to my appraisal in the conclusion on whether Turkey is one day likely to join the Union or not.