"TURKEY’S ACCESSION PROCESS
Michael Lake
Former EU Ambassador in
Turkey (1991-98)
Hungary (1998-2001)
The last few months have been among the most important in the life of the Turkish Republic since its founding in 1923 – 82 years ago. In recent years Turkey has been increasingly preoccupied with joining the European Union, to the point where it was on the verge of opening formal negotiations on 3rd October. This point, this long weekend of 30 hours negotiations – not with Turkey but within the European Union itself – was the most dangerous moment of the entire process since Turkey signed a Treaty of Association back in 1963. Failure would have been a setback for Europe. I do not doubt it would have thrown into confusion and doubt the accession prospects of more recent candidates and would-be candidates in the western Balkans."
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