The other side of the coin: the growing opposition in turkey against to the european union accession

III.4. New Era in the Relations
After Turkey’s recognition as a candidate for accession, so-called “new era” began in the relations between Turkey and the EU. Two important events took place in 2001 that completed accession strategy of Turkey. Firstly, “the European Commission adopted a framework”²⁹ which was determined in February to identify the financial assistance of the EU for accession process of Turkey and it was approved by General Affairs Council. Secondly, the European Council adopted Accession Partnership for Turkey on March 2001.³⁰ These two main events leaded Turkey to introduce its own “National Program” by aiming the fulfilment of the Copenhagen political criteria. In accordance with improvements of processes the reforms began to be made, particularly in the field of law within Constitutional amendments, including the advancement of human rights, the reinforcement the rule of law and the reconstruction of democratic institutions.
Additionally, by meeting in Laeken, Belgium, European Council of 14-15 December 2001, a substantial decision was taken that allowed Turkey to join the prospective Convention on the future of Europe without discrimination from the other candidate countries.³¹ Based on the statement during the Copenhagen Summit of European Council in December 2002, it was declared that "the negotiations will be opened if the decisions actualizing Copenhagen criteria are taken".³² In this context, numerous reforms packages, meetings, documents took place in following years to accelerate the processes and to make Turkey compatible with the Copenhagen criteria. On 16-17 December 2004, Brussels, the European Council Presidency Conclusions were stated that "... Turkey sufficiently fulfils the Copenhagen political criteria to open accession negotiations provided. ... It requested the Council to agree on that framework with a view to opening negotiations on 3 October 2005".³³
On the other hand, as the biggest enlargement, 10 new countries (Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic, and Slovenia) joined the European Union on 1 May 2004. For Turkey, this new enlargement meant signing another “Additional Protocol” to extend the Ankara Treaty by concerning the inclusion of new member countries. The Additional Protocol, in this manner, was signed on 30 July 2005. However, there were so significant changes in terms of the relations between Turkey and Cyprus. As well-known, a referendum took place in Cyprus to vote a peace plan in Cyprus, so-called the Annan Plan, which was prepared by Kofi Annan as the Secretary-General of the United Nations on 24 April 2004. Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus accepted the plan with 69,4 %, whilst the Greek Cypriots in Cyprus rejected it with 75,83 %. This circumstance caused the continuous problems. Nevertheless, Turkey presented a new solution plan to Kofi Annan on 20 January 2006. In accordance with the plan, Turkey was accepting to open its harbours to Greeks in Cyprus, but first “the isolations on Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus must be removed”.³⁴
On 8 November 2006, European Commission determined that Turkey did not open “its harbours and airports to the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus despite the Additional Protocol”³⁵ Therefore, the Commission gave additional time until the Summit of 14-15th of December. However, Ministers of Foreign Affairs from the member countries met in EU General Affairs Council and adopted the Commission Recommendation, which was made on 9 December 2006. The decision was given that “eight chapters shall not be opened and none of the chapters shall be closed temporarily until confirming the commitments relating to Additional Protocol of Turkey”.³⁶ Moreover, the Heads of Governments from the members’ states met on European Council Summit in Brussels on 14-15 December 2006 and agreed on decision which was given in General Affairs Council. These circumstances prevented the progress for the negotiations. Even today, the problems between Turkey and Cyprus still continue to exist and affect the accession process negatively.
In 2011, the Ministry for European Union Affairs was established under the 61^st Government of Republic of Turkey, in order to coordinate the activities which related with the accession process to the EU. Today, there are thirty-three chapters in front of Turkey; but only the chapter “Science and Research” opened and provisionally closed. Other twelve chapters had been opened since 2007. However, eight chapters were suspended in 2006 and still continue to be untouchable because of the Cyprus question. In accordance with the current status of the accession negotiation of Turkey, a detailed list is presented on the next page that was published by the Ministry for the EU Affairs, Republic of Turkey.