When negotiations begin: The next phase in EU-Turkey relations

Turkey has succeeded in completing the first group of Herculean tasks set by the EU. Ten years ago, it was hard to imagine that Turkey would abolish the death penalty, permit children to learn in Kurdish and place a civilian in charge of national security. Less than a decade ago, the military forced an Islamist party out of government. Now the successor to that party has made Turkey a more liberal democracy. The Turkish political system has proved itself capable of radical and very positive change.
Heather Grabbe was deputy director of the CER (2000-2004).