CHRONOLOGY OF TURKEY- EUROPEAN UNION RELATIONS
(1959 – 2009)
| 1959 | |
| July 31 | Turkey has applied for association to the European Economic Community. |
| 1963 | |
| September 12 | The Ankara Agreement (The Association Agreement) which would yield Turkey and European Economic Community to the Customs Union and provide full membership was signed. |
| 1964 | |
| December 1 | The Ankara Agreement signed between Turkey and European Economic Community entered into force. |
| 1970 | |
| November 23 | The Additional Protocol including the regulations on Customs Union was signed in Brussels. |
| 1971 | |
| September 1 | The Additional Protocol’s commercial adjudications entered into force with “Temporary Agreement”. EU abolished customs duties and quantity restrictions which were applied to industry products imported from Turkey (apart from textile products). |
| 1973 | |
| January 1 | Additional Protocol entered into force. Turkey actualized The First Reduction of Customs Duties and Harmonisation of Consolidated Liberation List (EU Customs Union Tariff). |
| May 21 | Negotiations between Turkey and European Economic Community related to enlargement of European Economic Community concluded with an agreement. |
| June 30 | The First Enlargement Agreement (Complementary Protocol) was signed in Ankara. |
| 1974 | |
| January 1 | Temporary Agreement entered into force which related Complementary Protocol |
| 1976 | |
| September 19 | Implementing obligations taking root from Additional Protocol, Turkey actualized Second Reduction of Customs Duties and Harmonisation of Consolidated Liberation List. |
| 1978 | |
| October 11 | During the process of the IV. Five Year Plan, Turkey claimed to suspend the obligations of Customs Union and an assistance approximately 8 billion USD. |
| 1980 | |
| June 30 | Association Council decided to cancel out the customs duties applied to almost entire agricultural productions in Turkey until 1987. (1/80 Association Council Decision). |
| 1982 | |
| January 22 | The relations between Turkey and the European Union were de facto suspended for reason of requirement of the European Parliament to suspend the agreement of Turkey – European Economic Community from the European Council and European Commission. |
| 1986 | |
| September 16 | Turkey and EEC Association Council convened. Therefore; relations between Turkey and European Economic Community which were suspended since 12 September 1980 came to life. |
| 1987 | |
| April 14 | Turkey applied for full membership of the European Community based on Article 237 of the Rome Treaty, Article 98 of the European Coal and Steel Community and Article 205 of the EURATOM |
| December 20-21 | Ad-hoc Committee convened for the second time and Turkey submitted an accelerated schedule to European Community in order to implement the obligations which were suspended in 1978 and brought it into force. |
| 1989 | |
| December 18 | European Commission in its “Opinion” about Turkey’s application of full membership process mentioned that it couldn’t accept a new member before completing process of its own internal market (1992) and necessity provisions in terms of economical, social and political developments should be fulfilled before Turkey’s pre-accession. |
| 1990 | |
| June 6 | European Commission submitted a “Cooperation Package” concerning precautions which include initiation and acceleration of cooperation with Turkey in every field. |
| 1994 | |
| July 30 | Commission of the European Communities ascertained the principles of Customs Union as stated in Ankara Treaty which was signed between Turkey and European Community in1963. |
| 1995 | |
| December 13 | Council Decision on Turkey- European Union Association No. 1/95 was approved by European Parliament. (343 Admissions, 149 Nays, 36 Non Committals) |
| 1996 | |
| January 1 | In the integration of European Union, Turkey entered the Final Period in 31 December 1995 by completing “Transition Period” which lasted 22 years and by 01.01.1996 completed the process of Customs Union Period provided in industrial products and manufactured agricultural products. |
| 1997 | |
|
December 12-13 |
At the end of the Summit of Heads of State and Government in Luxemburg convened by the European Union, Turkey wasn’t mentioned among the candidate countries, but it took place in the context of enlargement. |
| 1998 | |
| March 3 | The document titled “European Strategy of Turkey” relating to improve relations between Turkey and European Union was announced by European Commission. |
| November 4 | The first “Progress Report” including the opinions of Commission for “Regular Progress Report for Turkey” which were recorded in the light of criteria prepared by European Commission for European Union membership was published. Afterwards, they have been published annually in regular periods. |
| 1999 | |
| December 11-12 | The candidacy status was recognized for Turkey in European Council Summit Meeting in Helsinki. |
| October 13 | “Regular Progress Report for Turkey” prepared by the European Commission and noted in the light of criteria for membership to European Union, including the opinion of European Commission entered into force. |
| 2000 | |
| July 4 | Secretariat General for European Union Affairs was established in connection with Prime Ministry with Law 4587 published on Official Journal on 4 July 2000. |
| October 13 | “Regular Progress Report for Turkey” prepared by the European Commission and noted in the light of criteria for membership to European Union, “Progress Report” which includes the opinion of European Commission entered into force. |
| 2001 | |
| February 26 | “The Framework Code” which constitutes the base of the procedures related to Accession Partnership and the base of the donation that Turkey will receive from the Accession Partnership was accepted in the meeting of Fragment Regulations General Affairs Council. |
| March 24 | “Council Decision of 8 March 2001 on The Principles, Priorities, Intermediate Objectives and Conditions Contained in The Accession Partnership with The Republic of Turkey” No. 2001/235/EC was published in Official Journal of European Community No. L 85 in 24 March. |
| March 24 | “Decision on National Program of Turkey for the adoption of the Acquis Communautaire, application, coordination and monitoring of National Program of Turkey for the adoption of the Acquis Communautaire” was published in Official Journal repeated No. 24352 on 24 March 2001. |
| November 13 | “Regular Progress Report for Turkey” prepared by the European Commission and noted in the light of criteria for membership to European Union, including the opinion of European Commission entered into force. |
| 2002 | |
| November 20 | “Regular Progress Report for Turkey” prepared by the European Commission and noted in the light of criteria for membership to European Union, including the opinion of European Commission entered into force. |
| December 12-13 | It was stated in Copenhagen Summit of European Council that the negotiations will be opened if the decisions actualizing Copenhagen criteria are taken. |
| 2003 | |
| April 19 | EU Harmonisation Commission for Turkey was established in General Assembly of Turkish Republic. |
| July 12 | Council Decision of 29 May 2003 on the Accession Partnership with the Republic of Turkey No. 2003/398/EC is published in the Official Journal of the European Union No. L51 on 26 February 2008. |
| June 24 | Council Decision of 23 June 2003 on National Program of Turkey for the adoption of the Acquis Communautaire, application, coordination and monitoring of National Program of Turkey for the adoption of the Acquis Communautaire No. 2003/5930″ was published in Official Journal repeated No. 24352 on 24 July 2009. |
| November 5 | “Regular Progress Report for Turkey” prepared by the European Commission and noted in the light of criteria for membership to European Union, including European the opinion Commission entered into force. |
| 2004 | |
| April 24 | The referendum was conducted in Cyprus. The 69,4 % of Turkish people in Cyprus accepted but the 75,83 % of Greek people in Cyprus refused the Annan Plan. |
| October 6 | “Regular Progress Report for Turkey” prepared by the European Commission and noted in the light of criteria for membership to European Union, including the opinion of European Commission and the Recommendation Document according to the Progress Report entered into force. Within the framework of this document, Turkey was said to have fulfilled the political criteria and was recommended to begin to the negotiations. |
| December 17 | In the summit meeting of EU Head of State or Government, it was stated that Turkey has sufficiently implemented the political criteria and it could open the negotiations for EU accession on 3 October 2004. |
| 2005 | |
| June 3 | Ali BABACAN, State Minister, is appointed as the Chief Negotiator of Turkey in EU accession negotiations. |
| June 29 | Negotiation Fragment Document and other related documents for Turkey were published. |
| July 30 | Turkey signed the “Additional Protocol” which extended the Treaty of Ankara, signed in 1963 and constitutes the base of the relations between EU and Turkey, concerning the new ten members on the 1st of May 2004. |
| October 3 | Made a decision in Luxemburg, European Union started full membership negotiations with Turkey. |
| October 20 | Constituting first stage of EU accession negotiations, Screening Process started with Detailed Screening Meeting named “Science and Research” and Screening meeting on all chapters were completed on 13 October 2006. |
| 2006 | |
| January 20 | Turkey presented its new plan to the Secretary-General of United Nations Kofi Annan for the solution to the Cyprus issue. In this plan, it was demanded that if Turkey opens its harbors to Greeks, the isolations on Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus must be removed. |
| January 26 | Commission Decision of 23 January 2006 on the principles, priorities and conditions contained in the Accession Partnership with Turkey with No. 2006/35/EC was published Official Journal of the European Union No. L 22 on 26 January 2006. |
| June 12 | Completing screening on the chapter, named “Science and Research” was opened in Intergovernmental Conference held in Luxemburg. It was stated that criteria in required measure of Turkey carried out and this chapter was closed for a temporarily period in the same meeting |
| November 8 | It was confirmed that Turkey did not open it’s harbors and airports to the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus despite the Additional Protocol and Turkey was given time until the 14-15th of December. |
| November 13 | The Council of the European Union approved that Istanbul holds the European Capital of Culture in the year of 2010. |
| December 11 | Admitting the Commission Recommendation of 9 December 2006 by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, which are the members of EU, meeting in EU General Affairs Council, 8 chapters shall not be opened and none of the chapters shall be closed temporarily until confirming the commitments relating to Additional Protocol of Turkey. |
| December 15 | Taking place in Priority Summit Accession with the Heads of Governments and States of the EU, proposal of General Affairs Council was exactly accepted in Brussels. |
| 2007 | |
| March 29 | Negotiations are opened on the chapter of Policies of Enterprises and Industry. |
| April 17 | Harmonisation Package of Turkey to European Union Acquis was declared. |
| June 26 | Negotiations are opened on two chapters: Financial Control and Statistics. |
| December 19 | Chapters on Health and Consumer Protection and on Trans-European Transport are opened. |
| 2008 | |
| February 26 | Council Decision of 18 February 2008 on The Principles, Priorities and Conditions Contained in The Accession Partnership with Turkey and abolishing decision with No. 2006/ 35/EC with No. 2008/157/EC was published Official Journal of the European Union No L 51 on 26 February 2008. |
| June 12 | Chapters on Company Law and Intellectual Property Law are opened. |
| December 18 | Negotiations are opened on two chapters: Free Movement of Capital and Information Society, Media. |
| December 31 | Decision of 10 November 2008 on National Programme of Turkey with regard to be accepted European Union Acquis and Monitoring, Coordination and Implementation National Programme of Turkey with regard to be accepted European Union Acquis” with No. 2008/14481 was published Official Journal of the European Union on 31 December 2008 with No. 27097 (5.repeating). |
| 2009 | |
| January 10 | Egemen BAGIS, Minister of EU Affairs, was appointed as the Chief Negotiator of Turkey in full membership negotiations. |
| July 30 | Negotiations are opened on the chapter of Taxation. |
