Abstract:

The relations between Turkey and the European Union have undergone a challenging process, though important in every period of history. Strengthening relations with the Customs Union has gone on different levels with expectations and interests changing on both sides over time. Turkey has never abandoned the EU, but the EU has completely abandoned Turkey. Turkey, which is not among the full membership candidates for the 1997 Luxembourg summit, has followed a policy of suspending all relations with the EU for a while. But two years later, with the decision taken at the 1999 Helsinki summit, the EU candidacy of Turkey was accepted and the participation partnership certificate was announced. After that, the two relations were revived again and entered a new period in which mutual obligations and interests were discussed.