CHRONOLOGY OF TURKEY- EUROPEAN UNION RELATIONS (1959 – 2015)
| 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 | |
| January 1 | Turkey actualized the Second Reduction of Customs Duties and Harmonisation of Consolidated Liberation List (EU Customs Union Tariff). |
| 1980 | |
| September 19 | Decision No. 1/80 of the Association Council of 19 September 1980 on the development of the association; Association Council decided that Turkey shall eliminate the duties for nearly all agricultural products by 1987. |
| 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 |
| 1989 | |
| December 18 | European Commission in its “Opinion” about Turkey’s application of full membership process mentioned that it could not accept a new member before completing process of its own internal market (1992) and necessity provisions in terms of economic, 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 in 1963. |
| 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 EU Summit of Heads of State and Government in Luxemburg, 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 for Turkey” related 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 | “1999 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 was published. |
| 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 | “2002 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 it is decided that Turkey meet the Copenhagen criteria. |
| 2003 | |
| April 19 | EU Harmonisation Commission for Turkey was established in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. |
| 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 Cypriots accepted but the 75,83 % of Greek Cypriots refused the Annan Plan. |
| October 6 | “2004 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 Framework Document and other related documents for Turkey were published. |
| July 30 | Turkey signed the “Additional Protocol” which extended the Ankara Agreement, signed in 1963 and constitutes the base of the relations between EU and Turkey, concerning the new ten members on May 1, 2004. |
| October 3 | European Union started full membership negotiations with Turkey upon the decision taken in Luxemburg. |
| October 20 | Constituting first stage of EU accession negotiations, Screening Process started with Detailed Screening Meeting on Chapter 25: Science and Research and Screening meeting on all chapters were completed on 13 October 2006. |
| November 9 | 2005 Regular Progress Report for Turkey was published. |
| 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 | Chapter 25: Science and Research was opened to negotiations in Intergovernmental Conference held in Luxemburg. It was stated that Turkey met the requirements and this chapter was closed temporarily in the same meeting. |
| November 8 | 2005 Regular Progress Report for Turkey was published. 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 related 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 | Chapter 20: Enterprise and Industrial Policy was opened to negotiations. |
| April 17 | Harmonisation Package of Turkey to European Union Acquis was declared. |
| June 26 | Chapter 32: Financial Control and Chapter 18: Statistics were opened to negotiations. |
| November 6 | 2007 Regular Progress Report for Turkey was published. |
| December 19 | Chapters 28: Health and Consumer Protection and Chapter 21: Trans-European Transport were opened to negotiations. |
| 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 | Chapter 6: Company Law and Chapter 7: Intellectual Property Law were opened to negotiations. |
| November 5 | 2008 Regular Progress Report for Turkey was published. |
| December 18 | Chapter 4: Free Movement of Capital and Chapter 10: Information Society and Media were opened to negotiations. |
| 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 | Chapter 16: Taxation was opened to negotiations. |
| October 14 | 2009 Regular Progress Report for Turkey was published. |
| December 21 | Chapter 27: Environment was opened to negotiations. |
| 2010 | |
| June 30 | Chapter 12: Food Safety, Veterinary and Phytosanitary Policy was opened to negotiations. |
| November 9 | 2010 Regular Progress Report on Turkey was published. |
| 2011 | |
| June 8 | Ministry for EU Affairs was established. |
| July 12 | National Agency affiliated with the Ministry for EU Affairs. |
| October 12 | 2011 Regular Progress Report on Turkey was published. |
| October 12 | Positive Agenda, which aims to launch a new virtuous circle in the accession process and to enable a more constructive and positive relationship, was pronounced (Enlargement Strategy Paper 2011-2012) |
| 2012 | |
| April 12 | 120th meeting of the EU-Turkey Association Committee was held in Brussels. |
| June 22 | 50th meeting of the Turkey-EU Association Council was held in Brussels. |
| October 10 | 2012 Regular Progress Report on Turkey was published. |
| 2013 | |
| April 12 | 121st meeting of the EU-Turkey Association Committee was held in Brussels. |
| May 27 | 51st meeting of the Turkey-EU Association Council was held in Brussels. |
| October 16 | 2013 Regular Progress Report on Turkey was published. |
| November 5 | Chapter 22: Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural instruments was opened to negotiations. |
| December 16 | Turkey and the European Union have launched a dialogue on visa liberalisation and signed the Readmission Agreement |
| December 26 | H.E Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu took over the office of Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator from H.E. Egemen Bağış |
| 2014 | |
| April 15 | 122nd meeting of the EU-Turkey Association Committee was held in Brussels. |
| June 23 | 52nd meeting of the Turkey-EU Association Council was held in Luxembourg. |
| August 29 | Ambassador H.E. Volkan Bozkır took over the office of Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator from H.E. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu. |
| September 18 | Turkey’s New European Union Strategy was announced. |
| October 8 | 2014 Regular Progress Report on Turkey was published. |
| October 16 | Turkey’s New EU Communication Strategy was announced. |
| October 30 | Turkey’s National Action Plan for the EU Accession- Phase-I (November 2014-June 2015) was announced. |
| December 1 | Turkey’s National Action Plan for the EU Accession- Phase-II (June 2015- June 2019) was announced. |
| December 21 | Antalya Office of Ministry for EU Affairs was opened. |
| 2015 | |
| February 19 | İzmir Office of Ministry for EU Affairs was opened. |
| April 30 | 123rd meeting of the EU-Turkey Association Committee was held in Brussels. |
| May 18 | 53rd meeting of the Turkey-EU Association Council was held in Brussels. |
| November 10 | 2015 Regular Progress Report on Turkey was published. |
| November 29 | Turkey-EU Summit was held. |
| December 14 | Chapter 17: Economic and Monetary Policy was opened to negotiations. |
