Türkiye's bid to join the European Union remains a slow, ongoing process, drawing both criticism and support at home. The Economic and Foreign Policy Study Center (EDAM) hosted a forum where participants from across Europe examined Türkiye's relationship with the bloc and the challenges involved.
EDAM and similar organizations represent civil society's role in the accession process, which extends well beyond government policy into broader social transformation. Participants shared experiences from other countries that faced comparable difficulties before achieving EU membership, offering encouragement that Türkiye will eventually join.
As the heir to a vast empire, Türkiye continues to sort out which elements of that legacy to carry forward, a tension that EU-driven reforms are expected to help resolve. Those reforms could also encourage greater tolerance toward public expressions of religious belief, moving society away from equating such expressions with extremism.
Organizers stressed that inviting European intellectuals to Türkiye, while also sending Turkish voices to European audiences, would deepen mutual understanding between the two sides.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in October 2006, in its own words.