The effects of European Union?s minority politics to the process of Turkey?s membership to the union

The minority issue, which dates back to the 16th century, keeps its significance and continues to be a matter of controversy today, not only at the level of states? internal politics, but also in the international area. This is mostly due to the concerns of nation-states in relation with their sovereignty and by the reason of minority having no definite description in international law.In this study, it will be assessed within the framework of Progress Reports, to what extent the minority rights practices of Turkey as a candidate state and the condition of respect for minorities making up one of the basis of European Union?s Copenhagen political criteria coincide; and then it will be commented how the Union?s minority politics and expectations concerning minority rights effect Turkey?s membership process to the Union, taking into account the country?s present situation regarding the issue.In the first part of the study, after conceptual description of minority issue has been given with its historical background, the development of minority rights on international organizations? part and the general framework of the subject from world?s significant powers? perspective will be put forward; in the second part, how the minority issue has come into the agenda of European Union and the documents which the Union considers will be examined and then the minority politics of the Union in general and within the framework of Copenhagen criteria will be evaluated; finally in the last part with the legal basement for minority rights issue in Turkey being stated, how the minority issue effects Turkey?s access to the Union will be interpreted in accordance with his capacity to fulfill the Union?s expectations that are put forward within the Progress Reports issued in the negotiation process.