The approach of the Justice and Development Party's governments to European Union: 2002 - 2015

The main topic of this study is to analyse the approaches of Justice and Development Party Governments' to the European Union during the 2002-2015. Essentially the study involves the 58th, 59th, 60th, 61th and 62th Governments of Turkey. In this regard, the documents of the Governments, the publications of the JDP and the speeches of the JDP's deputies are examined. Moreover, the internal and external issues, which can affect the view of JDP, are defined and explained. Furthermore, the study also assesses the developments and stagnations of the relations between JDP's Government and European Union. In the first stage of the study, the history of the European integration process and European Union are described briefly. Then, the history of relations between Turkey and European Communities (Union) since 1957 to the 2002, when the JDP won the election, is investigated as a second phase. Third stage of the study is to analyse the approaches of the JDP's Governments to the European Union. Finally, the study involves the evaluation of the JDP's five Governments' views to the European Union. Keywords: Justice and Development Party, Turkish Governments, European Union,Negotiation Process, Europeanization Process