RETHINKING EU-TURKİYE RELATIONS:A MULTICULTURAL APPROACH TO GREEK MINORITIES1

The European Union (EU) approach to multiculturalism has resulted in legal framework based both on texts from other international organizations and on the mission conferred by the Copenhagen Criteria's emphasis on respect for minority rights.The requirement for EU candidate states to meet the Copenhagen criteria became binding on Trkiye in 1999, putting pressure on it to adapt its policies to EU standards, particularly with regard to cultural diversity and the protection of minorities.This paper examines the EU framework for multiculturalism in light of the Copenhagen Criteria and then discusses the subsequent legal and policy reforms in Trkiye.The study outlines the evolution of the Turkish minority regime, which has its roots in the Lausanne Peace Treaty, with a special focus on Orthodox Greeks, drawing on EU progress reports, publications by international organizations and secondary sources.It also looks at the milestones and policies that have oppressed the Greek community in Trkiye and analyses what the EU expects from Trkiye in terms of reforms in this area.While the study shows that Trkiye has made great strides in its approach to minority rights, it also points out that challenges remain on the road to full equality.The study is important for improving knowledge of EU integration and the protection of minority rights, while helping to further clarify EU-Trkiye relations.It also provides an indication of the international community's pressure for domestic reform and discusses the complexities of integrating multicultural policies into Trkiye's evolving legal and social framework.