Individual State Relations

Germany

On individual country basis in the EU, Turkey's strongest relationship is with Germany.

One of the main reasons behind the strength of their relationship is the large Turkish population (2.5 million) living in Germany where according to estimates 600,000 of them have already become German citizens. This factor has lead to increase in cultural and commercial exchange between the two countries. Therefore today Germany is one of the strongest backers of the Turkish application to join the EU. Furthermore Turkey has become a major destination for German holiday makers (who make up the largest group of tourists in Turkey) and German investors as the German language is spoken by an increasing number of Turkish citizens. The culmination of the German – Turkish political relationship was the participation of both countries alongside each other as NATO members in the war against the Milisovic's Yugoslav army in 1999.    

According to German government sources the volume of bilateral trade in 2003 exceeded the record of EUR 16 billion. Turkish exports to Germany in the first half of 2004 amounted to some EUR 3.7 billion (over EUR 7.2 billion in 2003) with German exports to Turkey in the same period reaching nearly EUR 6 billion (over EUR 8.8 billion in 2003). The largest number of foreign companies investing in Turkey are also German. Since 1980, Germans have invested over USD 4.5 billion.

The United Kingdom

In terms of strength , Turkey's relations with the UK are only second to Turkey's relations with Germany. Mutual economic and political interest between the two countries has underpinned the ongoing political and commercial exchanges between the two states. The UK is also a strong advocate of the Turkish application to join the EU. This is due to the strong security relationship between the two countries (both are NATO members). This was illustrated by Turkey's decision to allow the British Royal Air Force to base its fighters at the Incerlik airbase as part of Operation “Northern Watch” to enforce a no-fly zone over   Northern Iraq between 1993 - 2003. As a result of strong mutual security interests and Turkey's strategic value as a crossroad between Europe the Middle East and the Caucasus, the UK government backs the inclusion of Turkey in EU's economic and social alliance. According to UK government sources the UK is Turkey's 3rd largest ($2 billion USD) export destination and 6th largest ($3 billion USD) import source (2002 figures). Total bilateral trade for 2002 reached appx $5 billion USD.

It is also interesting to Turkey's one time enemy Greece is now in fact one of the advocates for the entry of Turkey into the EU. This is due to a marked improvement in the relationship between the two countries over the last few years. Furthermore according to statements made by the Greek government it is the generally held view in Athens that Turkey's actions and policies in the region can be controlled more by having Turkey in the EU rather than outside it.  

Entity Level relations

Turkey's acceptance for accession talks for entry into the EU in December 2004 marks a new phase in the EU – Turkey relations. This is after Turkey was given the status of a candidate country at the Helsinki summit in 1999. The accession talks will commence in October 2005 and it is expected that the talks will last 10 years before Turkey is allowed to join the EU (subject to a successful application).

Prior to that, the first agreement between the two entities was the 1963 EU-Turkey Association Agreement, whose aim it was to promote trade and economic relations. This agreement was replaced by the 1995 Customs Union agreement. According to the agreement goods can be traded between Turkey and the EU without any customs restrictions. The Customs Union covers all industrial goods but does not address agriculture (except processed agricultural products), services or public procurement. In addition to providing for a common external tariff for the products covered, the Customs Union foresees that Turkey is to align to the current EU policies and regulations in several essential internal market areas, notably with regard to industrial standards.

Finally, Turkey is also member of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership and as such should conclude free trade agreements with all other Mediterranean partners, with a view to the creation (by 2010) of a Euro-Mediterranean free trade area. Turkey has already embarked on such a plan as it already has free trade agreements with Israel, The Palestinian Authority, Syria and Morocco.

Trade

According to the EU, the EU ranks as number one in both Turkey's imports and exports while Turkey ranks 7th in the EU's top import and 6th in export markets.

By: Meir Javedanfar- www.meepas.com

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