ave as its objective to contribute together to making concrete progress towards European Union. * <В
Maastricht Treaty (Treaty on European Union)
The Treaty on European Union (TEU) 1992 was for many the logical progression from the completed Internal Market. This Treaty (known as Maastricht Agreement) marked a new stage in the process of creating an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe, where decisions are taken as closely as possible to citizens. The TEU concerned institutional reform and political union, together with the necessary amendments to the Rome Treaty, extending majority voting and strengthening the European Parliament. It incorporated the principle of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), including issue of the single European currency and provisions relating to security.
Aims of TEU;
В· the promotion of an international identity leading possibly to a common defense policy
В· the establishment of a single currency in the context of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)
В· reinforcement of environmental protection
В· a fund to promote cohesion in the context of economic and social progress, including improvement in the quality of life
В· the establishment of common citizenship
* ( The Treaty of Rome, Single European Act and Maastricht, Sixth edition of EC/EU fact book Alex Roney p. 14)
В· the facilitation of free movement of people, not forgetting their safety and security **
RELATION OF TURKEY AND EU
Firstly, I want to say that EU has some other official candidates which is Croatia. It hopes to join in 2009. Also, Republic of Macedonia has been given official candidate status as of December 2005 under the name "former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia".
Turkey and EU relations can be dated back as far as 1959, when Turkey applied for an association with the European Commission, thus on year after the enforcement of the Treaty of Rome. Turkey is an official candidate to join the European Union. The Ankara Agreement which was signed in 1963. Additional protocol was also signed in 1970 which underlined two main documents. The first time was to ensure future Turkey's Custom Union with EU, whiles the second was to find modalities to ensure Turkey's full membership with the EU. It must be noted that Turkey's long term dream of having Customs Union with the EU became a reality on 1 st January.1996. In spite of the fact that Turkey is the only country to have reached such an advanced stage with the EU without necessary becoming full member it took then 32 years. This delay was mainly due to;
В· The huge economical gap existing between Turkey and the EU at that time
В· Also because of Turkey's military intervention with Greece between 1960 and 1980s. p> According to the Article 24 of the GATT, Turkey now can import and export goods to and from EU without any restriction. However, Turkey should also apply the union's common trade policy in dealing with other countries outside the EU. For the time been, the Customs Union covers only industrial and processed agricultural products, plans are, however, in advance to add traditional Agricultural products pending Turkey's adaptation to the EU's Common Agricultural policy. p> Turkey-EU association relations that guided Turkey's foreign economic and commercial relations were culminated with the establishment of the Customs Union. The completion of the Customs Union is the most important development effecting Turkish economy since adoption of liberalization measures by the 1980s. The Customs Union with the EU is the most comprehensive element that contributes to strengthening Turkey's expanding role as a business partner.
An important feature of the Turkey-EU Customs Union is that Turkey is the first and only country to enter into such an advanced form of economic integration without being a full member. As it is a unique case for the EU, there are several issues other than tariff reductions where Turkey and the EU agree to cooperate. p> Turkey started preliminary negotiations on 3 October 2005. However, analysts believe 2015 is the earliest date the country can join the union due to the plethora of economic and social reforms it has to complete. Since it has been granted official candidate status, Turkey has implemented permanent policies on human rights, abolished the death penalty, granted cultural rights to its large Kurdish minority, and taken positive steps to solve the Cyprus question. However, due to its religious and cultural differences, Turkey faces strong opposition from governments of some member states, including France, Germany, Austria and Cyprus. The Greek government has supported in principle the Turkish candidacy, while in practice linking its progress w...
