Usporen reformski proces u Turskoj, njeno odbijanje da otvori svoje aerodrome i luke za saobraćaj s Kipra kao članice EU, kao i insistiranje nekih od utjecajnih sila u bloku da bi se njoj trebala umjesto punopravnog članstva ponuditi neka vrsta "privilegiranog partnerstva", glavni su razlozi za spor tempo pregovora Ankare.
Turkey's sluggish reform progress, its refusal to open its airports and ports to traffic from EU member Cyprus, as well as the insistence of some of the bloc's heavy-hitters that it should be offered some sort of a "privileged partnership" instead of full-fledged membership, are the main reasons for the slow pace of Ankara's talks.