In 1963 negotiations about Turkey's accession to the EU (at this time still EEC) had officially started but have remained without any success until today - not least due to democratic deficits within the republic. Since Recep Tayyip Erdoğan won a landslide victory during the elections in 2002, many things have changed in Turkey.
Economically and politically Turkey is in good shape today. It can rely on strong trading partners as well as on its integration into different international organisations.
This strengthened economic and political autonomy, however, weakens the willingness of the Turkish people to an accession to the EU. Despite the described improvements in the country, the human rights situations has worsened and a certain softening of the strictly laicistic order can be observed.
Against the backdrop that Erdoğan's recent reactions to the demonstrations in his country are extremely harsh and rigorous, his political direction can no longer be clearly evaluated.
In HSFK-Standpunkt Nr. 4/2013 "Wohin steuert Erdoğan? Die Türkei braucht den demokratischen Rückenwind der EU", Sabine Mannitz calls on the EU to finally fulfil its 50 year old promise in order to countervail recent developments and strengthen the democratic structures in Turkey.
The HSFK-Standpunkt is available as free download.