CIAO DATE: 09/2008
April 2008
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy
In February 2007, the Austrian government became the latest member of the European Union to propose a referendum on Turkish accession, citing "differences in values and standards" between Turkey and the EU. Recent data, however, reveals that these cultural differences are not so pronounced. And at a time when Turkey's EU accession faces challenges, highlighting shared Turkish and European values could greatly enhance the prospect for Turkey's membership.
Resource link: PolicyWatch #1367: Tackling Turkey's Image Problem in the European Union [PDF] - 12K