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The accession negotiations between the European Union (EU) and Turkey, which began 3 October 2005, launched a new phase. No other country has provoked such fierce negative reactions as Turkey. The accession negotiations differ from previous ones in that membership is disapproved of by large parts of the EU public. For the first time in the history of EU enlargement, alternative options for cooperation and integration in addition to full membership became part of EU accession negotiations. With gradual integration, Turkey would not only be integrated economically but also politically, and would receive the right to participate in decision-making. It could therefore be an interesting integration alternative beyond full membership for the EU as well as for Turkey.

Cemal Karakas is research assistant at the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF) and parliamentary assistant at the European Parliament.