At the Luxembourg Council in December 1997 Turkey’s European Union (EU) candidature was rejected, ostensibly on human rights grounds. Two years later the Helsinki Council granted Turkey full candidate status. The Helsinki decision has brought Turkey face-to-face with the non-negotiable Copenhagen criteria, particularly the elements relating to democracy and respect for minorities.

The paper examines the recent history of Turkey’s troubled relationship with the EU and the way in which human rights issues remain barriers to accession, exemplified by the recent events surrounding the arrest of three elected mayors representing the pro-Kurdish HADEP Party. Observers in the EU saw the arrests as evidence that the democratising process in Turkey had stalled. Within Turkey the EU’s criticisms were interpreted as interference in the legitimate business of maintaining domestic law and order.

The paper argues that Turkey must embrace a greater degree of pluralism and respect for minority rights if EU membership is ever to become a reality. This will only happen if political Islam and the Kurdish problem begin to be seen in terms other than a threat to national security. To this end it is essential that Turkey regards EU expectations of democratic and human rights reform, not as a threat or imposition, but as a means safeguarding Kemalist principles.