Has the Negotiation Process Become Credible Now? Evaluation Note / Nilgün Arısan Eralp

"The negotiation process of Turkey with the EU has been stalling since June 2010. There has not been any single chapter that has been opened since then. However the positive expectations started to emerge both in the EU and Turkish circles with the start of the Irish presidency following the presidency of Cyprus. Ireland, also officially declared before it assumed the presidency that it would do its utmost to open at least one chapter in Turkey’s negotiation process with the EU.

The accession negotiations are on the bases of 33 acquis chapters. Nearly half of these chapters are politically blocked because of the reflection of the Cyprus problem on negotiations and the categorical opposition of France to Turkey’s membership during Sarkozy’s presidential term. Under current conditions, there are only three chapters which can be opened without being subject to any political obstacle: Public Procurement, Competition and Social Policy and Employment. However Turkey has not yet fulfilled all the opening benchmarks of these chapters.  Turkey keeps reminding to the EU via different means that it would not take a significant step in opening these chapters when its membership perspective is in such a blurred state..."