Polis Bilimleri Dergisi Cilt:2(5-6) Turkish Journal of Police Studies Vol.:2(3-6) AVRUPA BİRLİĞİ - TÜRKİYE İLİŞKİLERİNDE TEMEL BELİRLEYİCİ UNSUR OLARAK İNSAN HAKLARI Dr. Mehmet ÖZCAN Polis Akademisi Öğretim Görevlisi ABSTRACT Relations between Turkey and the EU began on 31 July 1959 when Turkey applied for the membership of the European Economic Community. Since then, the relations between the two, have never been what Turkey desired to be. In the years following the application, the EU has enlarged itself from six to fifteen member states. Another 12 prospective members are also ahead of Turkey on the way to the EU. The enlargement of the EU, with some other factors, has brought new barriers to Turkey’s membership. But the obstacles to the full EU membership, do not only arise from the reservations of the EU, some considerable degree of the fault falls also on Turkey due to many problems such as military interventions. But the main obstacle to full membership is whether or not Turkey will comply with the so-called Copenhagen Criteria. In this article, one of those Criteria, namely “the institutionalised practices for democracy and legal order, and protection of human rights” will be examined. The effects of Turkish human rights practices on the EU- Turkey relations will be considered. In the last days of 20 th century, the relations between EU and Turkey have accelerated with the decision taken at the Helsinki Summit. In order to start the membership negotiations, Turkey has to produce serious effort in the short run in areas which pointed out in the Copenhagen Criteria. Otherwise she will miss the advantages of being a part of the modern West. Key Words: Copenhagen Criteria, Human Rihgts, Turkey-EU Relations Giriş Avrupa Birliği (AB) ile Türkiye arasındaki ilişkilerin 31 Temmuz 1959 tarihinde yapılan başvuru ile başlamasının üzerinden 40 yıldan fazla bir süre geçmesine rağmen, Türkiye'nin hala Avrupa Birliği'ne tam üye olarak kabul edilmemesinin temelinde bir çok neden yatmaktadır. Bu nedenleri, ne sadece Avrupa Birliği'nin Türkiye'ye karşı