Turkey and the EU

Latest business news about Turkey and the European Union

• Turkey country profile

Istanbul unveils European Capital of Culture 2010 plans — 27 November 2008, 23:34 CET

Istanbul on Thursday unveiled its plans for celebrating its nomination as European Capital of Culture 2010.

Italian PM urges EU to speed up Turkish accession — 12 November 2008, 22:14 CET

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Wednesday urged the EU to accelerate Turkey's membership bid and pledged to help Ankara win backing for its accession.

Turkey asserts reform commitment after EU criticism — 05 November 2008, 18:24 CET

Turkey stressed its determination Wednesday to meet the criteria for joining the European Union after being chided for slowing down its reform drive in an annual report on its progress towards membership.

EU concerned about political influence of Turkish army — 05 November 2008, 16:28 CET

Turkey's powerful military continues to wield political influence despite EU demands that control over the army be put firmly in the hands of the government, the European Commission said on Wednesday.

EU enlargement progress reports - key findings — 05 November 2008, 16:01 CET

EU Enlargement has helped to transform Central and Eastern Europe into modern, well-functioning democracies. More recently, it has inspired far-reaching reforms in Turkey, Croatia and the Western Balkans. All European citizens benefit from having neighbours that are stable democracies and prosperous market economies. Enlargement is a carefully managed process which helps the transformation of the countries involved, extending peace, stability, prosperity, democracy, human rights and the rule of law across Europe. The European Union has undergone a number of enlargements since its creation. More and more countries have joined the first six Member States. The EU has 25 members today and will possibly soon count 27 Member States.

EU criticises lack of reform in Turkey in 2008 — 05 November 2008, 16:03 CET

The European Union hit out at Turkey Wednesday for the slow pace of its EU-oriented reforms and urged Ankara to redouble its efforts to stay on track to join the 27-nation bloc.

EU tells Turkey anti-rebel actions should not curb human rights — 11 October 2008, 17:53 CET

The European Union's enlargement chief cautioned Turkey on Saturday that measures targeting Kurdish rebels should not curb human rights, Anatolia news agency reported.

Europe condemns attack on Turkish troops — 04 October 2008, 19:02 CET

The European Union condemned Saturday an attack by Kurdish separtists on a military post in southeastern Turkey which left at least 15 soldiers dead.

Erdogan slams EU for dragging its feet on Turkey's bid — 17 September 2008, 18:47 CET

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused the European Union of dragging its feet on Turkey's membership bid and "breaking" its motivation, Turkish newspapers reported Wednesday.

Sarkozy welcomes Gul's 'courageous, historic' visit to Armenia — 06 September 2008, 22:59 CET

French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Saturday welcomed Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul's visit to neighbouring Armenia as "courageous and historic."

Turkey ready to discuss diplomatic ties with Armenia — 06 September 2008, 12:44 CET

Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said diplomatic ties would be discussed during his historic trip to Armenia to watch a football match Saturday but warned against raising expectations.

Cyprus president tentatively favours Turkish EU membership — 05 September 2008, 22:11 CET

Cyprus President Demetris Christofias said Friday he was in favour of Turkey joining the European Union as long as it meets the requirements for membership.

EU clears Verbund, Sabanci purchase of Turkish power company — 26 August 2008, 12:47 CET

The Commission has approved Austrian power group Verbund and Turkish conglomerate Sabanci's plans to jointly purchase Turkish electricity company Baskent EDAS (Bedas).

Turkey's Gul anticipates 'new world order' — 16 August 2008, 20:03 CET

Turkish President Abdullah Gul predicted "a new world order" of joint international action, in an interview published in Britain on Saturday.

EU chiefs urge Turkish govt to press ahead with reforms — 02 August 2008, 13:36 CET

European Union chiefs called on Turkey to push ahead with pro-EU reforms after the country's Islamist-rooted ruling party narrowly escaped being outlawed, a German newspaper reported Saturday.

Turkey's EU road just as rocky after court ruling: experts — 31 July 2008, 20:16 CET

A top court's decision not to ban Turkey's ruling party may have avoided a crisis in relations with the European Union, but the path to EU membership is still far from smooth, experts said on Thursday.

US hails Turkey's democracy after court ruling — 30 July 2008, 23:46 CET

The United States expressed confidence Wednesday in Turkey's democracy after the republic's Islamist-rooted ruling party narrowly escaped being banned by a constitutional court for undermining secularism.

EU, rights activists say torture on the rise again in Turkey — 25 June 2008, 16:38 CET

The European Union and Turkish human rights activists expressed concern on Wednesday about a rise in the number of torture and maltreatment cases in Turkey.

Turkey takes tiny EU membership step — 17 June 2008, 14:32 CET

Turkey took another step Tuesday down the long road to joining the EU, opening two more of the 35 policy chapters that candidates must steer, but complained that "political" hurdles were impeding progress.

Referendum plan for Turkey EU membership an 'insult:' French minister — 06 June 2008, 09:43 CET

France's plan to submit Turkey's bid to join the EU to a referendum is an "insult" and could spark a serious rift between Paris and Ankara, France's Europe Minister Jean-Pierre Jouyet said.

EU 'Club Med' project deals new blow to French plans — 21 May 2008, 14:24 CET

The Commission has unveiled plans to boost ties with the EU's southern neighbours, but they dealt a blow to France's vision of a grand Mediterranean Union which has angered Turkey.

Britain says Mediterranean Union no 'alternative' to EU enlargement — 14 May 2008, 16:15 CET

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Wednesday that French plans to create a Mediterranean Union could not replace the enlargement of the European Union.

Free speech reform comes into force in Turkey — 08 May 2008, 10:10 CET

A long-awaited law aimed at expanding freedom of speech came into force in Turkey on Thursday after presidential approval.

EU concerned over political stability in Turkey, calls for reform — 06 May 2008, 23:32 CET

The European Union said Tuesday that a legal bid to ban Turkey's ruling party threatened the country's political stability and urged Ankara to accelerate its reform drive to overcome domestic tensions and ease its entry into the EU.

Turkey passes free speech reform, but criticism persists — 30 April 2008, 22:27 CET

Turkey's parliament Wednesday voted a long-awaited amendment to a law penalising "insults to Turkishness" after strong EU criticism, but rights activists insisted free speech remains under threat.