Happy Anniversary? EU-Turkey relations at age 50. An appeal

European Stability Initiative (ESI) 12 September 2013

By Gerald Knaus and Lucia Gobierna *

On 12 September 1963 leaders of the European Economic Community and Turkey met in Ankara. They signed an Association Agreement– the Ankara Agreement – with the objective “to promote the continuous and balanced strengthening of trade and economic relations between the Parties.”

Half a century has passed. And yet, while the bonds created in 1963 are solid the EU-Turkey relationship suffers from enduring and deep distrust. Not only are there no fireworks today, in either Turkey or in the EU, but there is also no meaningful debate about what this association has brought or what it means for the future.

* Gerald Knaus is chairman and Lucia Gobierna analyst with the European Stability Initiative, a think tank, based in Berlin and Istanbul. ESI’s work on Turkey-EU relations is supported by Stiftung Mercator.

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