Understanding Romania and Turkey's integration with the European union: Conditionality, security considerations and identity

Abstract

Romania and Turkey have (had) troubled relations with the European Union and have been laggards in terms of the EU's enlargement ‘process’ when compared to other applicants. Both countries provide excellent case studies to determine the relative importance of factors affecting the timing of enlargement decisions and how the EU differentiates between would-be members. This paper ascertains the relative importance of three key variables – conditionality, security considerations and identity – in explaining the key decisions influencing both countries' integration with the EU and it argues that there is a reciprocal relationship between three key variables and the actions of EU member states and institutions. © 2009 Taylor & Francis.