Frightened by the social, political, and potential security implications of the aggravating refugee crisis, the EU has decided to endow Turkey with the role of Europe’s “gatekeeper.”

This is problematic not least because the country is one of the EU’s most vulnerable neighbors, but also one that is deeply implicated in the Syrian proxy war and beset by disputes with countries all around it.

What is more, the EU is pursuing this at a critical time for Turkey. Authoritarian tendencies are no longer limited following the resounding victory of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in November – its fifth consecutive success since 2002 – which resolved the hung parliament following the June election impasse.