Turkey's EU Accession - Threat or Opportunity for Europe?

Turkey's EU accession hangs in the balance, following the French and Dutch ‘no' to the EU constitutional treaty. Although the referenda were not about EU enlargement, opposition to Turkish membership played a role in the no-campaigns of both countries. Other factors that may lead to delays in Turkey's accession timetable include early elections in Germany, the Cyprus problem and growing fears in Western Europe of low-wage competition. Some critics argue that the start of Turkish accession negotiations, scheduled for October 2005, should be postponed.

Against this uncertain background, panel of experts from Germany, the UK and Turkey will analyze and debate the arguments in favor and against Turkish membership. The event is organized by Berliner Forum Zukunft which is an initiative of Deutschen Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik (DGAP). Participants will ask how Turkey's membership would change the EU; what impact accession (or its postponement) would have on Turkey's development; how quickly Turkey could get ready to join the Union; and whether the ‘old' EU can compete with Turkey's fast-growing and youthful economy.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Joint seminar of

German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) and the Centre for European Reform (CER)