Accession of Turkey to the European Union

Turkey has been trying to become a member of the European Union (EU) since the 1960s. The EU is a political and economic union of countries, mostly from Europe, that work together to make decisions and trade with one another. Becoming a member of the EU is a long and complex process. The main steps to becoming a member involve applying for membership, getting approval from all EU members, meeting certain criteria, and making commitments to follow certain EU laws.

To join the EU, Turkey first has to submit an application, or a request to join the union. After making their application, the EU examines it to make sure that Turkey meets the requirements to become a member. Turkey must meet standards in areas such as democracy, human rights, and economic stability. Once Turkey is approved by the EU and meets the criteria, all 27 members of the EU have to agree on Turkey's membership. This is a long process that can take years.

If Turkey does get approval from all of the EU members, the EU and Turkey will then negotiate and sign an Accession Treaty. This treaty is a formal agreement between Turkey and the EU, which outlines what Turkey must do and accept to become a member of the EU. This may include following EU laws, and agreeing to cooperate with other EU members.

Once the Accession Treaty is signed, Turkey must still officially join the EU. This usually happens after the Turkish people agree to become a member in a referendum. This referendum is a special election where every Turkish citizen gets to vote on whether or not they want their country to become a member.

If the majority of people in Turkey vote "yes" in the referendum, Turkey officially joins the EU. This process usually takes several years, and Turkey still hasn't become a member of the EU yet.