Belen Gongora Martinez
Research Officer
Belén Góngora Martínez graduated from the School of Translation and Interpreting in Granada. She completed an MSc degree at LSE in European Studies: Ideas and Identities with the dissertation title ‘Europe and a Spanish Cohesive Identity’.
Contact: belen.gongora@gmail.com
Turkey applied for associate membership of the European Economic Community in 1959. Half a century in the waiting room and the enlargement prospects for Turkey still at a standstill. Turkey applied before Ireland, the UK and Denmark, but negotiations have experienced a death-slow tempo and there is not a clear and straightforward path for the long standing relationship between Turkey and the EU. Indeed, it was not until December 1999 when EU Helsinki Council recognises Turkey as an EU candidate country on an equal footing with other candidate countries and not until October 2005 when the formal opening of Accession negotiations with Turkey started.
On 8 July, Turkish President Abdullah Gul approved a law giving civilian courts the power to prosecute military personnel who might threaten national security. He insisted on the relevance of this legislation as an essential part in the EU membership talks.
Freedom of religion and expression lead to a strong and vibrant civil society that only strengthens the state, which is why steps like reopening the Halki Seminary will send such an important signal inside Turkey and beyond.
Ana Carbajosa analyses an increasingly widespread feeling throughout Europe: fear. Globalisation, terrorism, immigration, social insecurity, climate change and the current economic crisis are making Europeans more and more fearful: “Europeans are frightened” and distrustful of a little promising future.
This work is licenced under a Creative Commons Licence
