"This article presents an analysis of the development of trade unions in Turkey with particular reference to the Europeanisation of Turkish industrial relations against the backdrop of the EU accession process – an issue which has encouraged considerable debate and which will require Turkey to introduce core labour standards as a prerequisite. Taking a historical perspective, and working through the development both of Turkey itself and its modern trade union movement, it seeks to answer a number of specific questions in relation to the context in which trade union organisations now find themselves. The author concludes that trade union influence is currently very limited as a result the constraints of the prevailing Turkish trade union law, passed in one of the country's periods of military intervention. Nevertheless, the need to adapt the labour legislation to suit EU norms offers some possibilities for the introduction of core labour standards. Commitments have been made but progress so far remains slow and unions have an important role to play. "

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