EU – Türkiye Relations
Türkiye is a candidate country and a key partner of the EU on issues such as climate, migration, security, counterterrorism and trade.
In 1987, Türkiye applied to join what was then the European Economic Community, and in 1999 it was recognised as an EU candidate country.
Türkiye's involvement with European integration dates back to 1959 and includes the Ankara Association Agreement (1963) for the progressive establishment of a Customs Union (ultimately set up in 1995).
Accession negotiations started in 2005, but until Türkiye agrees to apply the Additional Protocol of the Ankara Association Agreement to Cyprus, eight negotiation chapters will not be opened and no chapter will be provisionally closed.
In 2018, due to continuing backsliding in reforms in the key areas of the enlargement process, in particular concerning the functioning of the democratic system, respect for fundamental rights and independence of the judiciary, the Council decided that accession negotiations had effectively come at a standstill.
A visa liberalisation dialogue was launched in 2013, but several of the requirements set in the visa liberalisation roadmap, remain unfulfilled. Since 2023, Türkiye is pursuing a policy of fiscal consolidation that has led to gradual decrease in inflation, which, however, remains high. Structural challenges, such as high unemployment and low female labour force participation, energy dependency and lack of dedicated climate legislation, and volatile business environment, continue to prevent Türkiye’s economy from reaching its full potential.
Türkiye is eligible for EU financial support through the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA III 2021-2027) and also from the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+). To support public and private investments in the priority areas of the EFSD+ (Green Deal, Global Gateway and Decent Jobs), the Turkey Investment Platform was established in 2022.
Earthquake assistance
Following the devastating earthquakes of February 2023, the European Commission, together with the Swedish Presidency of the Council, hosted an International Donors’ Conference for the people in Türkiye and Syria. The conference received a total of €6 billion in pledges for Türkiye, including €1 billion from the EU budget to support the reconstruction of affected areas. In June 2024, the Commission published the first Post-Conference Financial Tracking Report providing a first update on progress in the mobilisation of the pledge.
Key milestones
- November 2025The High-Level Dialogue on Research and Innovation takes place in Brussels.
- October 2025The High-Level Dialogue on Climate takes place in Brussels.
- July 2025The second High-Level Dialogue on Trade takes place in Ankara. The High-Level Dialogue on Migration and Security takes place Istanbul.
- April 2025The High-Level Dialogue on Economy takes place in Brussels, for the first time since 2019.
- December 2024Commission President von der Leyen meets with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara.
- July 2024The first High-Level Dialogue on Trade takes place in Brussels.
- April 2024
The European Council tasked Coreper to advance work on the recommendations of the Joint Communication in line with previous European Council conclusions and in a phased, proportionate and reversible manner.
The High-Level Dialogue on Health takes place in Ankara.
The High-Level Dialogue on Research and Innovation takes place in Istanbul.
- November 2023
In a Joint Communication to the European Council, the European Commission and the High Representative set out recommendations to advance relations in a strategic and forward-looking manner and to develop this relationship, in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and a broader, fast-changing geopolitical and security environment.
- March 2021The European Council expresses the EU's readiness to engage with Türkiye
The European Council expresses the EU's readiness to engage with Türkiye in a phased, proportionate and reversible manner to enhance cooperation in a launch of ‘positive agenda’
- March 2020EU-Turkey Leaders' meeting takes place in Brussels.
- November 2019The EU adopts a framework for targeted measures against Türkiye for its illegal drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean.
- March 201954th EU-Turkey Association Council held.
- June 2016Accession conference with Türkiye: Talks opened on Chapter 33 - Financial and budgetary provisions.
- April 2016First Implementation Report of Statement.
- March 2016EU-Turkey Statement
- December 2015Negotiations are opened on chapter 17 - Economic and monetary policy
- November 2015First EU-Turkey Summit held and Joint EU-Turkey Action Plan activated
- December 2013Visa liberalisation dialogue launched and EU-Turkey Readmission Agreement signed
- November 2013Negotiations are opened on chapter 22 – Reg. Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments
- May 2012Positive Agenda intended to bring fresh dynamics into the EU-Türkiye relations was launched
- June 2010Negotiations are opened on Chapter 12 (food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary policy)
- February 2008Council adopts revised Accession Partnership for Türkiye
- December 2006Because Türkiye refused to apply to Cyprus the Additional Protocol to the Ankara Agreement, Council decides that eight chapters will not be opened
- June 2006Negotiations are opened and closed on Chapter 25 (science and research)
- October 2005Council adopts negotiating framework, and negotiations are formally opened
- October 2005"Screening process" begins to determine to what degree Türkiye meets the membership criteria and what remains to be done
- December 2004European Council declares that Türkiye sufficiently fulfils the criteria for opening accession negotiations in October 2005
- May 2003Council adopts revised Accession Partnership for Türkiye
- March 2001Council adopts Accession Partnership for Türkiye
- December 1999Helsinki European Council declares Türkiye a Candidate Country
- December 1997Luxembourg Council summit declares Türkiye eligible to become EU member
- December 1995Türkiye-EU Association Council finalises agreement creating a customs union
Negotiation chapters
| Open |
| Free Movement of Capital Company Law Intellectual Property Law Digital Transformation Food Safety, Veterinary & Phytosanitary Policy Taxation Statistics Enterprise & Industrial Policy Trans-European Networks Environment and climate policy Consumer & Health Protection Financial Control Regional policy & coordination of structural instruments Economic & Monetary Policy Financial & budgetary provisions |
| Provisionally closed |
| Research and Innovation |
The EU Delegation in Ankara provides more information on Türkiye.