Turkey’s EU odyssey has recently entered a new phase. As we celebrate the decision of the EU to start membership negotiations with Turkey on October 3rd, 2005, we are also aware of the challenges before us. Much of the harmonization to come is economic in nature and for many segments of society it will cause hardship. It is, therefore, important that people at all levels, both at home and abroad, are conscious of what lies ahead of us and the underlying rationale behind them, as well as expected long and short term outcomes. The current rate of support for EU membership in Turkey is likely to drop, as was the case with other EU candidates. Managing the shifting sentiments in a responsible manner and maintaining the motivation and discipline will be crucial.