The Amendments In The Turkish Legal System In The Context Of The European Union Membership Process: Achievements and Failures

Within the framework of Turkey's full membership into the EU, the economic, social, political and fiscal requirements asked from Turkish Governments are largely related to legal system. The constitutional amendments in post 2000 era have been an embodiment of ongoing struggle on human rights. Under this conceptual framework, this paper presents an analysis of the modifications made in Turkish legal system by the means of a series of constitutional amendments and legislative changes. It is a subject of hot discuss to what extent the harmonization program has achieved these targets and to what extent domestic and international expectations were met. The post 2000 amendments and changes in the sphere of law function as a means of transformative power in other spheres like economic, political and social areas. While human rights-centered amendments in constitutional law and following changes in criminal law are welcome, those in administrative law field are not at the same level. In this article, I will try to shed light upon the meaning and effects of the constitutional and legal amendments and the tensions arising within this context in the post 2000 era. However, my purpose is not to create a chronology of Turkey-EU relations, but just to present a brief summary of that relation before the main subject.