The Union and the Turkish recognition of the Armenian “genocide” in the broader framework of the EU external action: a tale of possibilities yet to be explored

Throughout decades of partnership, the European Union (EU) has never opened a dialogue with Turkey regarding its refusal to recognise the 1915-1916 “genocide.” This paper evaluates this lack of action against a multilevel legal background: in bilateral relations with Turkey, the European Economic Community lacked powers in the field of foreign policy until the Treaty of Maastricht, although an association agreement was operational; since 1993, a full-fledged external-action machinery became available; in multilateral relations, the EU developed a policy vis-à-vis its Eastern neighbourhood, which evolved over the years. As remarkable as it may be as the only act produced outside the framework of Turkey’s accession process, the European Parliament’s resolution on the “genocide” centenary also constitutes a missed opportunity. Despite the current difficult stage of relations between Turkey and the EU, some tools towards a possible solution are still available.