The aim of this study is to evaluate Turkey's reform process within the framework of EU accession negotiations with a major focus on freedom of expression. It is argued that EU membership has become a major incentive for Turkish reforms and this includes legislative changes with regard to freedom of expression as well. The extent that Turkey has succeeded to adopt political and social rights generally shared within the EU is analyzed in this study by examining EU progress reports along with official documents on Turkey's progress in reform implementation. A brief overview of cases will serve to a better understanding of the improvements in freedom of expression. The study ends by concluding that EU has become an external force for Turkish political reforms and those changes have become more obvious especially since the opening up of accession negotiations in 2005. 

The aim of this study is to evaluate Turkey's reform process within the framework of EU accession negotiations with a major focus on freedom of expression. It is argued that EU membership has become a major incentive for Turkish reforms and this includes legislative changes with regard to freedom of expression as well. The extent that Turkey has succeeded to adopt political and social rights generally shared within the EU is analyzed in this study by examining EU progress reports along with official documents on Turkey's progress in reform implementation. A brief overview of cases will serve to a better understanding of the improvements in freedom of expression. The study ends by concluding that EU has become an external force for Turkish political reforms and those changes have become more obvious especially since the opening up of accession negotiations in 2005.