Ankara, Turkey. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that disagreements stemming from the Cyprus issue blocked Turkey’s journey toward membership of the European Union. He made the remarks after a cabinet meeting.
Early steps and agreement with the EEC
Erdogan said Turkey first applied for association with the European Economic Community in 1959. He said an agreement was signed in 1963 for Turkey to join the EEC in three phases, with the preparatory phase completed and the transitional period initiated in the early 1970s.
Cyprus dispute and comparisons with Greece
Erdogan said that in the subsequent period, disagreements stemming from the Cyprus issue caused Turkey’s journey toward the EU to be blocked. He said Greece, which applied for EU membership in 1975, was accepted shortly afterwards and joined in 1981.
Political reasons and impact of the 1980 coup
Erdogan said Turkey was pushed out of the negotiating table for purely political reasons. He said the 1980 coup d’état severely damaged Turkey’s democracy and its path toward the EU, adding that relations gained momentum again after Turgut Ozal came to power following the 1983 elections.
Full membership application and commission response
Erdogan said Turkey submitted its application for full EU membership on April 14, 1987. He said the commission responded two and a half years later that Turkey was eligible to join the community, but that it would not accept new members until it had achieved its own internal integration.
Customs union and candidate status
Erdogan said the EU-Turkey customs union entering into force in 1996 marked completion of the transition period and the start of the final phase, but that difficulties soon recurred. He said that at the Luxembourg summit in 1997, while 12 countries were granted candidate status, Turkey was ignored, and that at the Helsinki summit in 1999, Turkey’s candidacy was approved and preparation of the accession partnership document was decided.
Erdogan cites renewed efforts in 2002
Erdogan said that when he came to power as prime minister in 2002, Turkey breathed new life into these activities.
What do you think Erdogan’s comments indicate about Turkey’s current approach to EU membership?