The relations between Turkey and the EU have a long history, dating back to the late 1950’s when Turkey first applied for associate membership of the EU (it was then the European Economic Community-EEC) on 31 July 1959. The EEC granted this membership to Turkey on 12 September 1963 under the “Agreement Creating an Association between the Republic of Turkey and the European Economic Community”, also known as the “Ankara Agreement”. The relations continued with the Additional Protocol which regulates the transitional period of the association in the 1970’s.

         Turkey applied for full membership on 14 April 1987 and the relations reached an advanced level with the establishment of a Customs Union in 1996. Throughout this long process, the main aim in the Turkey-EU relations was to have full membership and this goal was the driving force behind the progress achieved in relations. The Helsinki European Council of 1999 confirmed Turkey’s candidate status and accession negotiations started in October 2005. However, these negotiations have been practically frozen, with no progress made in recent years.

This paper evaluates the nature of Turkey-EU relations in terms of security, and suggests that Turkey’s integration in the EU is significant for the EU’s security role. Turkey is a preeminent strategic partner of the EU on issues such as migration and counter-terrorism, and the security matter has always been an important issue influencing Turkey-EU relations.

          Turkey, with its three assets (its membership in NATO, its superior military capabilities, and its important geostrategic position) is an irreplaceable actor in the European security system in the post-Cold War era. First, by exercising its vote in the North Atlantic Council, Turkey has an institutional lever which can affect the EU’s defence aspirations. Second, Turkey’s military capabilities are vital for operations in the expanded European security area. Third, from a geo-political point of view, it is clear that Turkey, because of its geographic positioning at the crossroads of South Eastern Europe, the Middle East, the Balkans, and the Caucasus-Caspian region, is destined to play a key role in European security and foreign policy issues[1].

         In addition to these assets, some major events in recent history - including the 9/11 attacks in the United States, the Arab Spring and the refugee crisis - have proven the strategic importance of Turkey and the Turkey-EU relationship. Although the Cold War was a determining factor in the relationship in the past, the EU’s approach to relations with Turkey in the last decade cannot be considered separately from the aforementioned crises and the changes in the international system.

         The European Security Strategy (ESS) identifies international terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, regional conflict, failed states and organized crime as the key threats to the EU security. These are also reflected in the Defence White Paper 2000 of Turkey: “Turkey also believes that … the fight against international terrorism in the world, the illegal arms trade, drugs smuggling and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction occupy an important place in providing regional and world peace”. The EU member states may consider Turkey as a security opportunity if its values and views of the world and those of the EU converge.

        On the other hand, in his white paper on the future of Europe, the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker identified security threats, irregular migration, declining soft power and aging societies as key challenges, which the EU has to tackle. On each and every one of these aspects, Turkey is already making meaningful contributions to the EU.

         Contributions to the EU Operations and Missions

         After the end of the Cold War, Turkey became a prominent contributor to the UN and NATO peace operations around the world. Since its participation to the UNOSOM missions in Somalia in 1992, Turkey has provided various military personnel, expertise, and technical assistance to several UN and NATO peace operations.

        In addition to these operations, Turkey participated in the “Concordia” and “Proxima” operations led by the EU in the beginning of 2000’s[2]. Turkey also participated with its nine personnel in the EU’s first independently launched “Operation Artemis” in the Democratic Republic of Congo which was carried out between 15 June and 1 September 2003.

        Turkey still contributes to the EU’s several peace operations and missions such as the EU Operation Althea. Currently, Turkey’s contribution to this operation is nearly 350 personnel. Turkey is also participating in the EU’s first civilian crises management operation European Union Police Mission (EUPM) in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The EU initiated the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) on 9 December 2008 and Turkey is currently contributing to this mission with 91 personnel. In fact, Turkey is the second biggest contributor to the mission among the non-EU countries after the USA.

         Due to its participation in nine out of thirty EU-led operations, Turkey has been the biggest contributor to EU operations after France, Germany and Britain. Besides, Turkey’s contribution to these operations could help the development of mutual trust between Turkey and the EU. Turkey is an important factor in the changing European security arena, and, with its participation, the EU-led operations may stand more chance of success.

        Counter-terrorism

        One of the most important aspects in the Turkey-EU relationship is the cooperation in counter-terrorism. If the EU wants to see its security interests preserved then Turkey’s incorporation into the EU is highly significant. The post-September era has increasingly exposed Europe to the challenges of global terror. Given that the sources of global terrorism mainly originated from the Middle East, Turkey’s inclusion within the EU would enable the latter to rely on Turkey’s advanced military capabilities in its struggle with such threats[3].

        Turkey’s accumulation of knowledge and experience in the area of fighting against terrorism shows the need for states to cooperate at the national, regional and international levels to prevent and eradicate terrorism. Turkey uses every opportunity to state that it is ready for all types of cooperation in this matter and is willing to share the knowledge and experience it has gained in its long-standing fight against terrorism.

Turkey’s accession to the EU would provide a contribution to European integration with respect to terrorism, which now threatens mankind as a whole, and would demonstrate the resolution of the EU to combat terrorism.

        In the framework of their regular exchanges on counter-terrorism, Turkey and the EU held the Turkey-EU Counter-Terrorism (CT) Dialogue in Brussels on 8 June 2016. Terrorism poses a direct threat to both Turkey and the EU countries and their citizens. The EU and Turkey recognised the importance of the need to work together closely as key partners and strategic allies to counter these threats to our security and peace.

        Both sides strongly condemned the recent terrorist attacks in the EU and in Turkey and reaffirmed their determination to jointly combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, in accordance with international law, specifically the international human rights law and international refugee law. The EU and Turkey reiterated their commitment to urgently step up efforts to tackle the threat posed by DAESH and to stem the flow of Foreign Terrorist Fighters.

        The EU recognised that Turkey faces a grave threat from the PKK terrorism. The EU and Turkey also reiterated their determination to work closely to counter the terrorist threat from the PKK which has been designated as a terrorist organisation by the EU in 2001.

        Migration and Refugees

        The migrant crisis has brought out a new dimension in the EU-Turkey relations in terms of security. Since 2011, the civil war in Syria has displaced nearly 13 million people, more than half of the Syrian population. Syrians constitute the largest group within the 65.3 million forcibly displaced people worldwide. As of 3 October 2019, there are 3.671.553 Syrian refugees in Turkey. By hosting more than 3.5 million refugees and halting the flow of thousands via the Aegean Sea, Turkey has prevented a major humanitarian crisis in Europe. As a result of this, Turkey has become a key global and regional actor with regards to international migration.

        Turkey initially responded to large numbers of Syrians crossing its borders with an open-door policy and gradually came to incorporate temporary protection, non-refoulement, and humanitarian assistance into its response as the incoming flow of Syrian migrants continued. EU’s response to the refugee flows on the other hand, was mute until the summer of 2015, when the route of Syrian migrants changed course towards EU states and over a million refugees arrived in Europe.

        The Syrian refugee crisis which may transform into a “European crisis” fostered the development of bilateral relations between Turkey and the EU. Turkey has closed the Aegean Sea route, and stemmed the tide of migration towards the EU. More importantly, it has helped preventing the loss of life of the refugees.

        S-400 Missile System

        Turkey currently seems to be struggling to strike a delicate balance between its relations with Russia and those with the West. Turkey’s decision to purchase a Russian-made S-400 missile system has also caused a great deal of international controversy over the country’s place in the Western security block. However, Turkey signed an agreement on 8 November 2017 with some of the NATO members, like France and Italy, to develop its national air and missile defence systems assets to the available “space” through which Europe can engage more strongly with Turkey.

        Conclusion

         At the very time of writing this paper, Turkey launched the “Operation Peace Spring” into the North Eastern Syria on Oct. 9. The main goal of this operation is to provide border security and to ensure the safe return of Syrian refugees in Turkey. The safe zone formula in Syria crisis is the most practical method for the return of refugees. If Turkey cannot repatriate millions of Syrians to their homes this way, sooner or later, they will knock on Europeans doors.

         If the EU failed to support the safe zone plan, it would result in an escalation of the migration crisis in Europe. However, Germany and France suspended arms exports to Turkey, saying Turkey’s operation in the Northern Syria was a threat to European security. This security and migration issue is a shared responsibility that should be undertaken together by Turkey and the EU. The EU needs Turkey as much as Turkey needs the EU.

Regarding the Afghanistan Crisis, then German Defence Minister Peter Struck, in 2002, famously coined the phrase that “German security is being defended in the Hindu Kush” mountains. Today, regarding the Syrian Crisis, one can say that the security of Europe is being defended at the Turkish Syrian border.