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Turkey back on the agenda

Wednesday, 20th August 2008

Stand by for renewed activity in Brussels over Turkey’s ambitions to join the EU. Things have been quiet recently because of the Turkish government’s reluctance or inability to introduce reforms that might smooth its path to membership. On 18 August, however, a government spokesman announced the completion of a 400-page draft document the Turks hope will put them back on track.

The programme sets out the government’s programme for the next four years and includes constitutional amendments and more than 100 new laws designed to strengthen the judiciary and other institutions in ways that will appeal to the EU.
 
Turkey certainly looks as if it might need EU cash. The cost of the new national programme is estimated at some €21.8 billion, with €20.4 billion alone required to bring the country’s environmental standards up to those demanded by Brussels.

Incidentally, if the debate over Turkey’s EU membership is soon to be resumed, it could be followed by another one relating to Israel, where the prospect of joining the EU is being raised in certain quarters.

European Union or world domination?

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