THE EXTERNAL POLICY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION TOWARDS THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY

Abstract

The European Union was created to allow economic and political union of European countries in order to ensure lasting peace in the European region. From it’s creation until today, the Union is constantly in the process of formation development and enlargement to new members Thus, the focus of this research is the Republic of Turkey, a country which has candidate status and is waiting to join the European Union. Until 15 July 2016, before Turkey was stroke by a military coup directed against President Erdogan, in the eyes of negotiations with the European Union, Turkey was considered a stable country. However, the failed coup and the consequences that followed it, visibly changed the image of Turkish democratic values and principles, which consequently influenced the approach of the EU countries towards Turkey, and the direction of the euro integrative processes. In base of this, the focus of this research will be put on the foreign policy of the European Union towards the Republic of Turkey, in particularly after the changes that happened in the Turkish society after the coup, in order to determine the direction of the EU integration processes.

Key word: Foreign Policy of the European Union, Turkey, EU integration processes, coup, abolition of death penalty