Turkey & EU

Membership to the EU is a process, which dates back to late 1950s and has been a major aim of Turkish foreign policy for already half a century. In 1999 Turkey was declared a candidate who was to become officially a full member of the EU. Since then, Turkey has undergone reforms that aimed at meeting the membership criteria as required by the EU. After a successful completion of the criteria established by the EU, on 17 December 2004 the European Commission and the Council Turkey was assigned a firm a date, 3 October 2005, to start the accession negotiations.

Thus, a new page in Turkey’s relations with the EU was opened. Economic integration with the EU, however, is even more advanced due to the Customs Union in which Turkey has entered even prior to accession. Now the EU holds a big share in foreign investment in Turkey and is also a major trade partner of the country. Current structural reforms in the Turkish economy together with the strategic geographical position of the country will contribute positively to the development of extensive trade relations with the Central Asian, Black Sea Economic Cooperation and the Economic Cooperation Organization countries. Thus, Turkey will thus be able to contribute to the EU’s opening to these markets by which both Turkey and the EU will benefit.