New Prospects in Turkey-EU Relations: How to Fix a Weakened Relationship through Cultural Diplomacy, Policy Brief No. 11, September 2018

Senocak, Naciye Selin (2018) New Prospects in Turkey-EU Relations: How to Fix a Weakened Relationship through Cultural Diplomacy, Policy Brief No. 11, September 2018. [Policy Paper]

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Abstract

Turkey’s accession process within the European Union (EU) is a highly controversial issue. Throughout the last 50 years, Turkey’s engagement with the European integration project has faced various barriers and problems, despite the significant reform undergone by Turkey in line with EU policies and Copenhagen criteria. Since the failed coup attempt of July 2016, EU-Turkey relations have confronted additional challenges and conflicts of interests. In June 2016, the European Commission presented the ‘Strategy for International Cultural Relations’ with the aim of encouraging cultural cooperation between the EU and its partner countries to promote a global order based on peace, the rule of law, freedom of expression, mutual understanding and respect for fundamental values1. Turkey has distinct importance in EU external policies; nevertheless, cultural misunderstanding, misinterpreted perceptions, ethnocentrism and axiological nihilism between Turkey and the EU remain strong sources of tension for Turkey’s putative accession to the EU.

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