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Writer and journalist William Chislett looks at Turkey’s long and winding road to European Union membership, which began in 2005 when it set out on its accession process.

Turkey’s situation at the crossroads of world affairs means membership would have profound consequences. Chislett explains how the membership process is in a special category of its own because of the country’s huge size, economic under development and Muslim religion. The main stumbling block to negotiations is Ankara’s refusal to extend its customs union with the EU and open its ports and airports to Greek-Cypriot traffic. The creeping authoritarianism of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has also been criticised.

Chislett, a former foreign correspondent for The Times and the Financial Times, lives in Madrid and writes about Turkey and Spain for the Real Instituto Elcano, whose honorary president is King Felipe VI. He has published two books on Turkey. He speaks at another event at the festival on how Spain has changed 80 years after the start of its 1936-39 Civil War.