Turkey and the EU: A New Era, Winter 2004

Turkey has passed a very critical threshold after the December 17 European Council Summit decision. Accordingly Turkey is promoted from a candidate country to an accession country status. The negotiations for full membership will start in October 2005.  The Government’s most important priority in the coming period will be ensuring and maintaining the convergence of Turkey to the European Union. Turkey has done a lot in terms of both political and economic reforms during the last two years. Watershed changes have been introduced in the country and many observers have been surprised by the speed and quality of the changes. In the run up to opening of accession negotiations, we will keep the momentum and continue with right policies. The Government’s most important priority in the coming period will be ensuring and maintaining the convergence of Turkey to the European Union.