Turkey eyes EU membership
The country’s prime minister has hailed the referendum result as a boost for Turkey’s bid to join the EU.
Recep Tayyib Erdogan, the Turkish prime minister, is celebrating the outcome of his country’s referendum on constitutional changes, saying it will boost, among other things, Turkey’s bid to join the EU.
The EU has hailed the vote as a step in the right direction, but made clear that it needs to be followed by other much-needed reforms to address fundamental rights, such as freedom of expression and religion.
So just how far away is Turkey from its long-awaited full membership of the EU?
Inside Story, with presenter Nick Clark, discusses with guests Hassan Kon, a professor of international law and relations at Istanbul University, Hugo Brady, a senior research fellow at the Centre of European Reform, and Fadi Hakura, an expert in Turkish affairs at the European Programme at Chatham House.
This episode of Inside Story aired from Monday, September 13, 2010.