AK Party related content 

Observers fear rise of ‘illiberal democracy'. European Union officials are increasingly worried that Turkey might be drifting in the direction of authoritarianism. A wave...

The European press's reaction to the Franco-German plans for true European economic government, and more. Yesterday's meeting in Paris of Angela Merkel, Germany's...

Turks to vote on changes to the constitution amid concerns that AK party would be too powerful. When Turks vote in a referendum on Sunday (12 September), they will be...

Informal talks come amid concerns about state of enlargement policy. Middle East, Bosnia and Belarus also to be discussed in Gymnich The foreign ministers of Turkey and the...

Croatia receives clear timetable and Serbia makes significant progress against an otherwise lacklustre backdrop. The EU has for the first time given Croatia a clear,...

Enlargement commissioner wants parallel progress; Croatia expected to finish accession talks in 2009. The enlargement of the EU will not be delayed by uncertainty over the...

The EU must help Turkey discover its political destiny. The constitutional court case against Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling Justice and...

Talks seen as best chance in years for a settlement. Talks on the reunification of Cyprus are to start on 3 September, the leaders of the island's Greek and Turkish...

Christofias says reunification talks at risk, warns of ‘unpleasant' developments. Cypriot President Demetris Christofias fears that the Turkish Cypriots could be forced to...

Despite last year's landslide election, the AK party must now fight for its existence. The protracted struggle between modernisers and traditionalists in Turkey has seen a...

The EU must not forget the influence it wields in Turkey and must keep open the dialogue with Ankara about future co-operation. It is interesting that French President...

It would be better to turn membership talks into real partnership negotiations before the road ahead becomes a cul-de-sac. Are relations between Turkey and the European...

France claims court ban of AKP would not affect policy; officials say ban would reaffirm Sarkozy's stance. n 1 July, the first day of the French presidency of the EU,...

Enlargement chief says there is no crisis, it is not in the EU's interest to stop enlargement. Preparations for further enlargement of the European Union must continue, Olli...

A court should not force women to choose between religious belief and educational aspirations. On 5 June, Turkey's constitutional court revoked government measures that...

Despite Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's claims, his critics say that the Turkish government is undermining the country's efforts to join the EU. Kirsty Hughes reports....

Despite his stunning election win this July, Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan remains a prickly character when it comes to media criticism. In his first term in...

The election of a new Turkish president has cleared the way for Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to form a new government, whose programme is to be announced during the...

France's EU affairs minister has called for a high-level panel to discuss the EU's external borders as a way of calming public fears about enlargement. Speaking in Brussels...

The new Turkish government, to be formed after Sunday's elections (22 July), must put an end to the political crisis which has paralysed the country since April. The early...