Analysis
Turkey's long march towards the EU has slowed in recent years to a reluctant crawl. Formal talks on membership began in 2005, but there's been a distinct lack of enthusiasm on both sides.
It has been a virtual stalemate since 2010 when France and Cyprus vetoed the opening of negotiations on 11 of the 35 policy areas, or chapters, which countries have to complete to be eligible for membership.
As a result, support for EU membership in Turkey itself has plummeted. But there have been signs recently that things are changing. Both Germany and France have suggested that they want to get things moving again - and it's expected that talks on one of the blocked chapters, regional aid, will begin later this month.
It's only a small step forward, and there is a very long way to go. German Chancellor Angela Merkel admits that she still has doubts about Turkish membership, but she wants the process to continue.
The fact that Turkey's economy has continued to boom, while the eurozone has been mired in crisis, may have contributed to the change of heart.
The other member of the EU's big three, the UK, has always been a leading supporter of Turkey's application.
No comments:
Post a Comment