THE EU AND THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN.

This paper looks at EU-Turkish relations. It pays special attention to the Report issued by the European Commission in October 2004 recommending opening of accession negotiations with Turkey. A final decision for the commencement of accession negotiations was made by the European Council in December 2004. The Commission suggested that a three pillar approach should be followed during the accession negotiations in order to guarantee that harmonization with the acquis communautaire and the political reform process are consolidated, broadened and properly implemented by Turkey. It also pointed out that accession negotiations are an open-ended process that will be suspended if Turkey breaches basic EU principles like democracy and respect for human rights. The article argues that the case of Turkey is different and more challenging from previous accessions for several reasons. A major issue is whether the internal sociopolitical dynamics and external orientations of Turkey can be compatible with the changing dynamics of the European integration process. It concludes that during the protracted period of accession negations Europe and Turkey will find out whether they can share a common future that will reconcile their different pasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]