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EU Awaits Turkey’s Reform Plan

EU officials privately have doubts about Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan’s reform plan and express concerns about freedom of the media.
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan gestures during the Istanbul Conference of the Ministry For EU Affairs in Istanbul June 7, 2013. Turkey must investigate whether police used excessive force in a crackdown on days of anti-government demonstrations and hold those responsible to account, European Union enlargement commissioner Stefan Fuele said on Friday. REUTERS/Osman Orsal (TURKEY - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS) - RTX10F76
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“Turkey at a crossroads.” This expression has been used for so many years that it's now cliché. Yet, for Western observers of Turkey’s exciting — and troubling —   European Union venture, this “chronic” state remains the order of the day, reinforced further with a sentiment of fatigue.

Such is the climate that I saw prevailing in Brussels after a series of conversations there this week with EU diplomats and politicians, who spoke mostly “off the record” given the delicate state of affairs in the process.

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