50 years after the Ankara Agreement: Where do Turkey-EU Relations stand?

SILK ROAD FORUM with Dr. Ozan Serdaroglu

Visiting Fellow at the Institute for Security and Development Policy

Thursday September 5, 2013 10:00 – 11:30

Since the signing of the Ankara Agreement in 1963, European enlargement towards Turkey has been evolving with an unpredictable momentum. Although Turkey’s eligibility for full membership has been confirmed by the agreement, neither side has been successful in putting forth effective policies for europeanizing Turkey, both in diplomatic and domestic terms. The experiences accumulated during the last 50 years demonstrate that the Turkish case amounts to a “failed enlargement”, as the process is both fragile and influenced by external distortions, such as political debates or contextual preferences. Even if full membership continues to be a shared objective, the process of enlargement is likely to be prolonged. The seminar aims to give an update on the current situation in EU-Turkey relations, with an emphasis on both the concept of “failed enlargement” and on identifying political events which are likely to have distortive effect during the upcoming years.

Dr. Ozan Serdaroglu is specialized in issues of political and economic development, collective action, regional integration, EU affairs and Euro-Turkish relations. Additionally, he has research experience in voting behavior, intercultural communication, Turkish polity and entrepreneurship.

Location: ISDP, Västra Finnbodavägen 2, Stockholm-Nacka. For a map and directions, please go here.

To attend: RSVP to Ms. Ebba Mårtensson at emartensson@isdp.eu