Negotiating "Europe": EU and Turkey

Abstract

The institutional relations between the EU and Turkey intensified after the declaration of Turkey’s candidacy in 1999 (Muftuler-Bac 2005). In line with the pre-accession strategy for Turkey, the Commission prepared an Accession Partnership Document in November 2000, which the European Council adopted in March 2001. In turn, Turkey submitted its National Program for the Adoption of the EU acquis in March 2001. The 2002 Copenhagen European Council decided to review Turkey’s candidacy in 2004, committing itself to starting accession negotiations with Turkey “without delay” if the Copenhagen political criteria had been fulfilled. In May 2003, the European Commission adopted a revised Accession Partnership Document for Turkey. Also in July 2003, the Turkish government revised its National Program on the Adoption of the Acquis, reflecting the political reforms already adopted. The European Commission’s Progress Report of October 6, 2004 recommended the opening of Turkish accession negotiations (European Commission 2004). In line with this report, the 2004 Brussels European Council decided to start accession negotiations with Turkey on October 3, 2005, provided that Turkey signed an Additional Protocol, extending the Customs Union Agreement to the ten new member states, including Cyprus.