Turkey and the EU

Latest business news about Turkey and the European Union.

Next steps for EU enlargement — 10 October 2012, 17:59 CET

The European Commission has recommended for a fourth time to open accession negotiations with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. It recommends granting EU candidate status to Albania subject to completion of key reform steps, and proposes negotiating a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with Kosovo once it has made progress in fulfilling a number of short term priorities. The Commission also confirmed that Croatia is on track in its membership preparations. In a set of annual reports, the Commission also assesses the progress towards EU accession made elsewhere in the Western Balkans, Turkey, and Iceland over the past year.

Turkey: country overview — 30 January 2017, 21:23 CET

In 1987, Turkey applied to join what was then the European Economic Community, and in 1997 it was declared eligible to join the EU. Turkey's involvement with European integration dates back to 1959 and includes the Ankara Association Agreement (1963) for the progressive establishment of a Customs Union (ultimately set up in 1995). Accession negotiations started in 2005, but until Turkey agrees to apply the Additional Protocol of the Ankara Association Agreement to Cyprus, eight negotiation chapters will not be opened and no chapter will be provisionally closed.

Securing the EU energy supply - Turkey and countries of the Caspian region as key players — 07 March 2011, 22:44 CET

This publication provides a summary of the Friends of Europe evening debate "Securing the EU energy supply - Turkey and countries of the Caspian region as key players". The debate featured Heinz Hilbrecht, Director for Security of Supply, Energy Markets and Networks at the European Commission, Reha Aykul Muratoglu, Head of Transit Petroleum Pipelines at Turkey’s Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, and Stefano Sannino, Deputy Director General for Enlargement at the European Commission.

EES 2011 Turkey National Report — 01 February 2011, 23:17 CET

The Eurochambres Economic Survey 2011 report on Turkey gives an overview of the Turkish economy in 2010 and provides a detailed analysis of the economic indicators: turnover, national sales, export, employment, investment, and business confidence.

Enlargement Strategy and Progress Reports 2010 — 11 November 2010, 23:13 CET

On 9 November the Commission adopted its annual strategy document explaining its policy on EU enlargement. The document will include also a summary of the progress made over the last 12 months by Croatia, Iceland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Kosovo*. In the 2010 package, Commission will also present its Opinion on the readiness of Albania and Montenegro to start accession negotiations. These Opinions replace this year's progress reports on the two countries concerned.

Special Report No 16-2009 "The European Commission’s management of pre-accession assistance to Turkey" — 14 January 2010, 23:26 CET

In this report the European Court of Auditors analyses the Commission’s management of pre-accession financial assistance to Turkey. Particularly the first pre-accession assistance period 2002-2006 suffered from many weaknesses common to pre-accession programmes. The Commission had not set sufficiently specific objectives for its funding to allow assessment of the project outcomes and did not have sufficient information to demonstrate the effectiveness of its pre-accession assistance. However, the projects visited did deliver their intended outputs and the results of the projects are likely to be sustainable. While the Commission has already made some significant improvements, the Court makes several recommendations for further corrective measures. The most critical areas for improvement are the setting of strategic objectives for the financial assistance, the development of more realistic timescales for the objectives and the monitoring of actual project performance and results based on clear objectives and appropriate indicators.

Starting a business in Turkey — 15 October 2009, 16:34 CET

This World Bank site provides information about the procedures and costs associated with starting a business in Turkey.

EU Funding in Turkey — 15 October 2009, 16:34 CET

The EU is committed to supporting Turkey in its path for membership. The initial objective of EU financial support towards Turkey was the extension of an area of peace, stability and prosperity within and beyond Europe. Once the Union accepted Turkey as a candidate, financial assistance began to focus on supporting Turkey in its preparation for EU membership.

Turkey Investment Climate 2009 — 15 October 2009, 16:33 CET

The Government of Turkey (GOT) views foreign direct investment as vital to the country's economic development and prosperity. Accordingly, Turkey has one of the most liberal legal regimes for FDI in the OECD. With the exception of some sectors (see below), areas open to the Turkish private sector are generally open to foreign participation and investment. However, all investors – regardless of nationality – face a number of challenges: excessive bureaucracy, a slow judicial system, high taxes, weaknesses in corporate governance, sometimes unpredictable decisions made at the local government level, and frequent changes in the legal and regulatory environment.

Turkey: Economy Overview — 15 October 2009, 16:33 CET

Turkey's dynamic economy is a complex mix of modern industry and commerce along with a traditional agriculture sector that still accounts for about 30% of employment. It has a strong and rapidly growing private sector, yet the state remains a major participant in basic industry, banking, transport, and communication.

EU Enlargement Process - progress reports on the candidate countries: Croatia, Turkey and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia - key findings — 14 October 2009, 14:34 CET

The European Commission has adopted its annual strategy on EU enlargement. The Communication highlights the progress the Western Balkans and Turkey made towards European integration during a difficult year of global economic crisis, and spells out the main challenges facing them in the months and years to come. In the light of the progress achieved, the Commission decided to recommend the opening of negotiations with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. In a major step forward for the region, visa liberalisation for the Western Balkans will progress substantially in 2010.

Turkey in Europe: Breaking the Vicious Circle — 07 September 2009, 12:32 CET

Turkey in Europe: Breaking the Vicious Circle, the second report of the Independent Commission on Turkey, analyzes the key developments in EU-Turkey relations and puts forward concrete steps necessary to revive negotiations. The Independent Commission on Turkey is convinced of the huge benefits of Turkish convergence with Europe and an eventual EU membership of a transformed Turkey, both for the country itself and the European Union. Despite a promising start to negotiations in 2004, the process has developed a vicious circle: continued negative comments by European political leaders, combined with growing public hesitation about further EU enlargement, have deepened resentment in Turkey and slowed the necessary reforms. The report argues that this vicious circle must urgently be broken, in the interest of both Turkey and the EU. European governments must honor their commitments and treat Turkey with fairness and the respect it deserves. On its side, Turkey has to re-engage in a dynamic, broad-based reform process, thus confirming that it is willing and serious in its ambition to join the EU.

The EU's Trade Relationship with Turkey — 20 July 2009, 12:20 CET

The EU and Turkey are linked by a Customs Union agreement, which came in force on 31 December 1995, pursuant to the 1963 EU-Turkey Association Agreement, which aims at promoting trade and economic relations. The Customs Union is ambitious but does not cover essential economic areas, such as agriculture, to which bilateral trade concessions apply, services or public procurement. Turkey has been a candidate country since 1999.

Turkey in the European Union: Implications for Agriculture, Food and Structural Policy (Cabi Publishing): Implications for Agriculture, Food and Structural Policy — 07 November 2007, 13:59 CET

The European Union will begin accession negotiations with Turkey in October 2005. Agriculture, food and rural issues will play a major role in the negotiations, raising questions about the consequences of EU membership for Turkey's agricultural sector and rural population. This book presents a comprehensive description of Turkey's agricultural, food and rural sectors. Focusing on institutional arrangements, performance and economic prospects. Topics dealt with include agricultural production, prices and policies, agricultural trade, environmental issues, animal and plant health, and conditions in rural areas. The book explores the possible consequences of accession, both for Turkey and for the European Union.

Turkey and the European Union: Internal Dynamics and External Challenges — 07 November 2007, 13:54 CET

Accession negotiations are underway and Turkey is preparing to become a full member of the EU. "Turkey and the European Union" makes a scholarly contribution to the debate over Turkey's participation in the European integration process and the EU's future enlargement. It explores the recent history of ups and downs in EU-Turkish relations and looks at the prospects and challenges that Turkey's membership presents to both the EU and Turkey. The central question is how the internal economic and sociopolitical dynamics, and external orientations of Turkey, will meet the challenges of EU membership. Turkey's regional role and relations with the US are also examined.

Macroeconomic Policies for EU Accession — 07 November 2007, 13:50 CET

What macroeconomic requirements must Turkey meet in its quest to accede to the European Union? This book, with its distinguished contributors - well-known economists and policymakers - examines and analyses these macroeconomic challenges confronting Turkey. Although the focus is on the specific situation of Turkey, the lessons are informative for other candidate countries and the findings directly relevant to the process of European integration. The book is divided into four parts: fiscal policies and sustainability of public finances; monetary policy challenges; preconditions for euro adoption; and, sustainable regimes of capital movements. Each topic is studied in two consecutive papers concentrating first on the challenges faced by the countries of the EU, and then by Turkey. Several papers review the experiences from the previous round of EU accession and the implications of these for Turkey. "Macroeconomic Policies for EU Accession" will appeal to policymakers, bureaucrats and academics interested in the macroeconomic problems of EU accession and European integration.

Turkey and Central and Eastern European Countries in Transition: Towards Membership of the EU — 07 November 2007, 13:46 CET

This comparative study of the Central and Eastern European and Turkish economies analyzes the implications of EU enlargement. The contributors discuss issues related to the creation of a legal infrastructure that encourages entrepreneurial initiative, fair competition, market forces and investor confidence. They assess the benefits of following prudent monetary and fiscal policies together with appropriate competition, trade and foreign direct investment policies in Turkey and Central and Eastern Europe.

Find an office in Turkey — 31 August 2006, 23:46 CET

Instant Offices Turkey

Turkey country profile — 16 August 2012, 12:03 CET

Located at the crossroads between Europe and Asia, Turkey has a rich cultural and ethnic diversity. Turkey is a candidate country for membership of the European Union.

Doing Business in Turkey (HLBI) — 03 August 2006, 22:58 CET

Guide on Turkey from HLB International, which has produced a series of international booklets on accounting, taxation and company law information.

Taxation and Investment in Turkey (Deloitte) — 18 June 2015, 13:48 CET

The Taxation and Investment Guides are a first stop for investors wishing to gain a working perspective on the operating conditions and investment climate – including the legal, accounting and taxation framework – in the countries covered in the Deloitte International Tax Source. In addition to the Turkey Highlights and Taxation and Investment Guide, above, country links open the door to the Deloitte International Tax Source and a wide range of materials and information on the tax consequences of doing business across borders.

Business Environment - Turkey — 03 August 2006, 22:51 CET

Snapshot of the business environment for the Turkish economy, from the World Bank

Trade Turkey — 03 August 2006, 22:50 CET

Turkey Business Directory and Trade leads of Turkish manufacturers, foreign and Turkish importers, and Turkish Products.

Turkey Browser — 03 August 2006, 22:49 CET

Turkey legal, trademark and patent portal