Turkey is characterized by a very high level of internal disparities and the entry of Turkey, given present economic conditions, would accentuate considerably theexisting imbalances within the EU between the richer and poorer regions. Traditionally Turkey has had a highly centralized system of government dating from the Ottoman Empire and consolidated by the Republic of Turkey. Thiscentralization is reflected in its administrative structures. In light of the philosophy of EU regional policy, the author outlines the requirements for candidate countries,pointing out where Turkey currently stands and clarifying the challenges that lieahead...Please click here to read the text in full.