Why Did Turkey Join The European Union

expense of the Ottoman Empire, recently defeated in World War I. Greek borders fell in 1922, giving Turkey the advantage. The two countries negotiated the terms of surrender, and decided the leave the border the same as before the war with the Treaty of Sevres. Turkey did not follow the treaty, and the Treaty of Sevres was abandoned for the Treaty of Lausanne, which was imposed by the Ottoman Empire and instituted the formal loss of Cyprus and Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. Turkey continues to invade Cyprus, claiming it as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a partially recognized state compromises the northeastern portion of the island. The Turkish fixation on the island of Cyprus is a bone of contention for Cyprus, Turkey, and Greece, which halts
Under the customs agreement Turkey had already signed as a precondition to start EU negotiations in 2005, it is obliged to open its ports to Cypriot planes and vessels, but Turkey has not complied. Greece and Cyprus have been member states of the European Union since 1981 and 2004 respectively, which means their consent is mandatory for Turkey to join the European Union in a formal capacity. The historical strife between the two countries is unlikely to be solved, granting Turkish alignment with the Union, because of the essential dictatorship of the country. This will stop progression of social institutions within the country, like membership with the European Union, because of the absolute power of current Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Joining the Union and cooperating with the guidelines in place, would mean any major decisions about Turkey would be brought to the Union for a vote, and the decision would be made through several tiers of deliberation and group thought. Historically speaking, dictatorship does not welcome conflicting opinions on diplomatic
The current system in Turkey takes place in a framework of a secular parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Prime Minister of Turkey is the head of government, and the President of Turkey is the head of state who holds a largely ceremonial role with substantial reserve powers. Turkey's political system is based on a separation of powers, where executive power is exercised by the Council of Ministers. Legislative power is with the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. The problem with this system is that it leaves too much power to the Prime Minister (President is also used interchangeably) and has the ability to take power away from the Grand National Assembly. A major reform was passed in Parliament in January 21 2017 and approved by referendum the following April reinforcing the role of the president and granted Erdoğan “broad powers to make law by decree, the abolition of the office of the Prime Minister and of Turkey’s parliamentary system”, essentially establishing Erdoğan as a dictator. This is in direct offense with the guidelines established to join the European Union, as there is expected to be a free and democratic society, which grants the people of said country the ability to vote and have