Publication

This brief examines the effects of Europe's economic crisis, the political tensions in Turkey, as well as the potential impact of the May 2014 European Parliament elections, on Turkey’s accession negotiations with the EU. The author argues that the economic crisis and the political tensions in Turkey have not helped Turkey-EU relations and warns that after the May elections, the number of MEPs that oppose Turkey’s membership in the EU will increase. However, he also contends that the rise of anti-Turkey voices in the European Parliament could lead mainstream parties to reject such attitudes and support fair treatment of Turkey’s EU candidacy.