Publication

This paper takes stock of Turkey’s ongoing quest for EU membership, particularly given the country’s deteriorating social and political circumstances since the July 2016 coup attempt. As the paper’s author sees it, President Erdoğan’s large-scale campaign to purge the government of his political rivals has brought EU-Turkish relations to a new low point. Further, the European Commission’s latest annual report raises legitimate concerns about Turkey’s ability to deliver on EU accession requirements, particularly those that center on the rule of law, human rights and corruption.