Conditioning Factors and Cautions in the Negotiations on Turkey's Accession to the EU

In the document of the Negotiating Framework between Turkey and the EU, a series of very important conditioning factors and cautions are introduced, which the author analyses in this article. He makes reference to the "Turkish case", to how it has been treated in the EU countries and institutions, and to the Euroscepticism existing in Turkey. After underscoring the progress and great efforts made by Turkey on its journey toward the EU, the author pauses to discuss the Cyprus conflict, one of the principal obstacles in the process. Finally, in addition to celebrating the beginning of formal negotiations on accession, he highlights Turkey's profound European vocation and appeals to European responsibility with regard to this country.