Turkey and the EU

Latest business news about Turkey and the European Union

• Turkey country profile

Turkey won't oppose French NATO return over EU row: report — 30 June 2008, 22:55 CET

The Turkish government said Monday it would not seek to block France's return to NATO command despite French objections to Ankara's European Union integration, the Anatolia news agency reported.

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.

Turkey takes tiny EU membership step, but more uncertainty looming — 12 June 2008, 14:17 CET

Turkey will take another small step next week down the long road to joining the European Union but its quest could soon be undermined by a possible ban on the country's ruling party.

EU greenlights new step in Turkey's membership talks — 12 June 2008, 14:17 CET

EU ambassadors on Thursday gave the green light for Ankara to open two more of the 35 policy chapters, or sectors, that all candidates must navigate to sign up to Europe's rich club, officials said.

French Senate moves to scrap measure on Turkey's EU entry — 11 June 2008, 23:52 CET

A French Senate committee on Wednesday rejected a measure that would have made a referendum on Turkey's membership in the European Union mandatory, saying it could harm relations with Ankara.

Bush: Turkey should become EU member — 10 June 2008, 18:20 CET

US President George W. Bush declared Tuesday that Turkey should be granted European Union membership as he attended his eighth and final summit with EU leaders.

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.

Turkish court annuls headscarf law in blow to government — 05 June 2008, 22:43 CET

Turkey's top court on Thursday annulled a law allowing women to wear Islamic headscarves in universities on grounds it violates secularism, dealing a major blow to the ruling Islamist-rooted party.

Turkey slams France over EU referendum plan — 03 June 2008, 23:31 CET

Turkey on Tuesday slammed a French reform project making a referendum obligatory for accepting new EU members, saying it was aimed at raising new barriers to Ankara's bid to join the bloc.

France proposes referendum on EU bids, targets Turkey — 30 May 2008, 00:46 CET

France voted on Thursday to make holding a referendum obligatory for accepting new EU member countries with populations over five percent the group's entire size -- a move that particularly affects Turkey.

Turkey set to push ahead with EU membership talks — 21 May 2008, 17:04 CET

The European Union could push forward next month with membership negotiations with Turkey, opening talks on two more policy sectors, the EU's presidency and executive arm said Wednesday.

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.

Queen Elizabeth underlines British support for Turkey's EU bid — 13 May 2008, 23:02 CET

Queen Elizabeth II on Tuesday underlined Britain's support for Turkey's troubled bid to join the European Union as she began a four-day state visit here, her first since 1971.

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.

France pledges not to snag Turkey's EU accession talks — 06 May 2008, 23:38 CET

A senior French official pledged Tuesday that his country would not seek to block Turkey's European Union accession talks when it takes over the bloc's presidency in July.

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.

Turkish free speech reform 'step forward': EU — 30 April 2008, 22:39 CET

The European Union welcomed on Wednesday a decision by the Turkish parliament to soften rules on the freedom of expression as a "step forward."

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.

Turkish parliament passes free speech reform — 30 April 2008, 10:21 CET

The Turkish parliament Wednesday passed a long-awaited amendment to a law penalising insults to "Turkishness" that has drawn strong EU criticism as a threat to free speech in the country.

Sarkozy opposes Turkish entry into EU, vows referendum — 24 April 2008, 22:08 CET

French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Thursday reaffirmed his opposition to Turkey joining the European Union and said he would order a referendum on Turkish membership if necessary.

EU must continue Turkey's membership talks: EU presidency — 23 April 2008, 15:56 CET

The European Union must go ahead with Turkey's membership negotiations or risk its credibility, Slovenian President Danilo Turk, whose country holds the bloc's rotating presidency, said Wednesday.

Austrian FM says no automatic EU membership for Turkey — 21 April 2008, 14:31 CET

Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik told Turkey Monday that it should not expect to automatically join the European Union and urged Ankara to pursue democratic reforms to catch up with the bloc.

Commission chief urges Turks to defuse political tensions — 11 April 2008, 17:16 CET

Bridging political rifts in Turkey, torn between secularists and defenders of broader religious freedom, is crucial for the country's EU membership bid, the European Commission president said on Friday.