The Luxembourg decision of December 1997 to reject Turkish accession into the EU rebuffed Turkey’s wishes. The 1990s started with an explicit wish of the Turkish President to link its country’s moves in the Gulf War to a rapprochement with the EU. 1 Realities, ambivalence, and hopes: Turkey and the EU In this chapter we analyze the major elements of this complex relationship. Absolute democracy has been the EU prerequisite insistence that each nation has a right to its own form of democracy and that Turkish democracy should be seen as the equal of any other has been the Turkish view. Savage and bitter criticisms were exchanged, pleasantries and compliments were reciprocally given, rosy and optimistic hopes for better times were shared. Alas, the road to Europe has been hectic, something that often resembled a roller-coaster ride. Turkish association with Europe was meant to be the epitome of the country’s integration in the Western civilization membership in the relevant economic and military bodies (NATO, the EU), the chief agents to achieve it. Turkey’s relations with Europe and the EU have covered a multitude of issues, in particular being heavily involved with economic, political, cultural, ethnic, social, religious, secular and excessive national issues, the democratic process and military interventions in that process, human rights, minority rights, immigration and other aspects.

Road to 56 turkey