In assessing the costs and benefits of Turkey joining the EU, Schleifer highlights how far Turkey has come since it first began to court the possibility of a membership. Although Turkey still has a long way to go in convincing the EU that they are club-membership worthy, the efforts it has thus far undertaken are significant. If this much benefit can come from only the possibility of joining, actual membership holds a significant promise of progress for both Turkey and the EU.
Both Turkey and the EU stand to benefit much from a potential membership. In reviewing the historical obstacles that have come in the way of Turkish accession to the EU, Bağcı hilights how Turksih foreign policy has developed in line with European policy. Turkey’s political and economic potential would not only benefit the EU’s international relations, they would also encourage the country to continue on this path of progress and refrom.
Has Turkey’s AK Party changed the foreign policy direction of the country with regards to the EU? Guven argues, contrary to popular opinion, that the AKP’s strategy is not a sign of change in the country’s foreign policy. Rather, it is a symbol of its continuity and their commitment to demonstrating that the EU has much to gain diplomatically by acceding a country with close ties to the Middle East.
The experience gained in the period between the results of the June 2009 elections and the formation of the Hariri Cabinet in October has been significant. The political achievements Hariri has secured have allowed him to focus on securing international support in the case of a regional conflict that might harm the wellbeing of the Lebanese people. .
