Minority policies of the European Union and effects on Turkey

At the Copenhagen Summit, held on June 21-22 1983 between the EUmember countries? heads of states and governments, the European Councilexplained the criteria, known as ?Copenhagen Criteria?, that the candidatecountries are expected to meet before being accepted as full members.These criteria are grouped as political, economic and legislative (adoption ofAcquis Communataire).One of the issues within the political criteria includes ?respect for andprotection of minorities?. In order to become a full member each candidatecountry is supposed to meet this criterion, however, it is not clear what eachcandidate country is required to achieve to meet this aim. The EuropeanUnion does not want the new countries to carry their minority problems intothe Union. There is no regulation in European Union Law that directlypertains to minorities; however, with the European Union Constitution due tocome into effect on November 1, 2006, the issue of minority protection willthen have a judicial basis.It is essential for these criteria to be clarified in order for Turkey, who hasstarted process of examination of the acquis, called screening on October 3,2005, to be able to meet what is demanded of her regarding ?respect for andprotection of minorities?. When the minority policies of the European Unionand its implications for Turkey are examined, primarily the minorities andtheir rights have been dwelt upon. Some effort has been made to identify theminority policies of the EU, in the light of the EU law and EU institutions?activities on this issue and, by examining the EU?s expectations of Turkeyand Turkey?s minority policy, a solution has been evaluated. The decision asto whether Turkey should become a full member has been left outside of thisdiscussion.