BF-FieldManual-FEB13 -3.pdf - Bertelsmann Foundation

as a rising regional and internationalpower whose influence would be goodfor Europe in general and Britain inparticular. One of David Cameron’sfirst overseas trips as prime ministerwas to Ankara, where he signed astrategic partnership agreement withErdogan outlining joint commitmentson bilateral, regional and internationalissues. 17 In 2011, Cameron and Erdoganalso established the Tatli Dil forum,bringing together individuals from thepolitical, business and academic sectorsin both countries. Cameron has criticizedthe EU for the slow pace of accessionnegotiations. While sidesteppingbroader concerns over governance andinternal cohesion, Cameron has arguedthat Turkish membership in the EUwould increase the union’s internationalinfluence and have profound economic,security and diplomatic benefits. 18Unlike the UK, France’s relations withTurkey have become frosty, if nothostile, over the last four years. Thisdeterioration resulted in large part fromthe policies of former president NicolasSarkozy, who was staunchly opposedto Turkish membership in the EU. Heblocked the opening of five criticalchapters of Turkey’s EU agenda at theEuropean Council’s 2007 accessiontalks, a blockade that remains in place.Domestically, Sarkozy angered Turkishofficials with his enthusiastic support ofa 2011 French parliamentary bill makingit a crime to deny the 1915 Armeniangenocide. In retaliation, Erdogan frozerelations, recalling its ambassadorand denying French airplanes accessto Turkish airspace, including militaryplanes bound for Afghanistan. 19The striking down of the genocide billby the French Constitutional Court andthe recent election of François Hollandeas president helped lessen the tensionbetween Ankara and Paris. Full diplomaticrelations have been restored, and theTurkish government has expressedconfidence that Hollande will lift Frenchobjections to EU membership and moveforward on the blocked chapters. ButHollande has been coy on the subject,describing himself as “non-reluctant” tosupport Turkish membership if Ankaracompleted all of the necessary accessioncriteria. 20 At the same time, though,he strongly supported the genocidebill, and his warm relations with theArmenian community in France and hissupport for an amended law in lightof the court’s decision raise doubtsover whether Paris’s position towardsTurkey will significantly improve in thecoming years.Turkey’s relationship with Germanyremains the most complex among itsbilateral ties on the European continent.The countries have maintained uniquepolitical, economic and cultural relationsfor decades, and their economies are stilldeeply interdependent. German exportsto Turkey have risen 400 percent over thelast 10 years, amounting to $20.1 billionin 2011. 21 Likewise, Germany has emergedas one of Turkey’s most importanttrading partners. The 50th anniversarycelebration of Germany’s guest workerprogram in 2011 highlighted the uniquecultural connection established by themore than 3 million Turkish immigrantsand people of Turkish descent livingin Germany.Roadblocks on Turkey’s Path to EU AccessionChapter openings blocked by the CouncilEight: Free movement of goods; freedom to provide services; financialservices; agriculture and rural development; fisheries; transport policies;customs union; external relationsChapters opened for negotiations, but closureblocked by the CouncilChapter openings blocked by FranceTwelve: Free movement of capital; company law; intellectual propertylaw; information society and media; food safety; veterinary andphytosanitary; taxation; statistics; enterprise and industrial policy, trans-European networks; environment; consumer and health protection;financial controlFive: Agriculture and rural development*; economic and monetarypolicy; regional policy; financial and budgetary provisions; institutionsChapter openings blocked by CyprusSix: Free movement of workers; energy; judiciary and fundamentalrights; justice, freedom and security; education and culture; foreign,security and defense policyNo movementSuccessfully completed chaptersFive: Public procurement, competition policy; social policy andemployment; institutions; other issuesOne: science and research*The agriculture and rural development chapter is also blocked by the EU CouncilSource: House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee. (20 March, 2012). UK-Turkey Relations and Turkey’s Regional Role: Twelfth Report of Session 2010-2012.5 8Turkey