This paper analyses and assesses the political and legislative reforms in Turkey since 1999. It assumes a somewhat circular relationship. This means, in addition to domestic critical junctures that influenced the reform process in Turkey the paper will also assess in how far EU-Turkey relations can drive political and legislative reforms in Turkey and how this affects in turn the EUTurkey relationship. Such an assessment will allow us to draw the full picture of elements that could reinforce or reverse the trends.