Turkey: Growing concerns about EU membership

Writing in April 2005 the author says that there has been growing concern about the way in which the Turkish Government is falling behind in its efforts to prepare for the start of formal EU accession negotiations on 3 October 2005. While Ankara continues to stress that it is still committed to membership, there is an increasing sense that the delays are evidence that Turkey is starting to question its relationship with the European Union. As the realities of joining become better understood, observers are starting to conclude that there is a distinct possibility that, at some point in the coming few years, Turkey could well propose some form of special relationship as an alternative to full membership.