This essay is about the way in which changes in the structure of the European Union could help Turkey to achieve membership by around the end of the first decade of the twenty-first century. It is argued that expansion to Central, Eastern and Southern Europe should not be seen as a linear process, but rather that the problems at one stage of the process can significantly effect the chances of success at the next stage.ln particular the problems of dealing with expansion to Eastern Europe could lead to the easing of problems in the way of expanding to the South.