Turkey is an essential part of the political,
economic and security fabric of Europe.
During the Cold War Turkey’s importance to Western Europe and the broader Western Alliance was clear. Its strategic position, its status as a regional power and its substantial military contribution, with the second largest army in NATO after that of the United States, placed Turkey on the front line of the stand-off between East and West.
With the end of the Cold War, the role of Turkey within Europe became less clear. Turkey’s candidature for the EU can be traced back to its association agreement with the EEC in 1963. However, Turkey was only formally recognised as a EU candidate country in 1999, with negotiations over Turkey’s membership beginning in October 2005. Turkey’s inclusion within Europe has not enjoyed the same urgency of as that of some of the former members of the Warsaw Pact, the alliance that stood against NATO.
“Turkey’s inclusion within Europe has not enjoyed the same urgency of as that of some of the former members of the Warsaw Pact, the alliance that stood against NATO.”
Turkey is a vital economic partner for the EU, with jobs in both the EU and Turkey reliant upon the other. As the economic challenges facing European countries grow, strengthening this economic partnership, which is firmly rooted in the real economy of physical exports, becomes ever more important.
The EU is number one for both imports and exports into Turkey, while Turkey is the fifth largest receiver of European exports and the seventh largest importer of goods into the European Union. The EU accounts for over half of Turkish exports, while Turkey supplies large amounts of textiles and transportation equipment to its European neighbours. The EU invests around €3 billion annually into Turkey. The economic importance of Turkey was emphasised by the signing of a Customs Union Agreement in 1995. Since 2002, the EU has looked to extend the scope of this Union.
Few security relationships are as important as the West’s with Turkey. For a while during the 1990s, Turkey seemed less vital to European security, but its importance is now once again clear to see. Turkey is crucial to Western interests in the Greater Middle East. It defends Europe’s Eastern flank, and its experience in dealing with its neighbours to the East is ever more clearly to Europe’s advantage. Turkey plays a vital strategic role in protecting Europe’s energy supplies, particularly as Russia seeks to reassert its influence on its ‘near abroad’.
“Turkey is not merely Europe’s neighbour but Europe’s partner. It is important to both Turkish and EU prosperity that Turkey moves closer to the heart of Europe.”
Turkey is not merely Europe’s neighbour but Europe’s partner. It is important to both Turkish and EU prosperity that Turkey moves closer to the heart of Europe.
Turkey in Europe has been created to make a balanced and positive case for Turkish membership of the EU – and to keep up the pressure on both Turkey and the EU to try harder.
For more information please contact:
info@turkey-in-europe.com
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