[Shannon]

Turkey set to extend EU customs agreement

29 July 2005 20:26
Turkey is expected to sign a key protocol this evening extending its European Union customs agreement to cover all 25 EU states, including Cyprus.

This move would meet the final condition to start membership talks in October.

Because of political sensitivities, there will be no signing ceremony.

British EU ambassador John Grant signed the text on behalf of the 25-nation bloc and sent it to Turkish ambassador to the EU, Oguz Demiralp, who will sign and return it.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/0729/turkey.html

[**claire**]

Signed

http://forum.kusadasi.biz/thread2518.html

[finchie]

At the risk of sounding a bit thick.. what does this mean for Turkey?
Does this mean they will have a place in the EU for certain or does it mean they will are still up for scrutiny and more talks? I am a bit confussed!!

[Umit]

haha, actually i confused about that too.
but i dont think it means Turkey will have a place in the EU for sure

[Angel]

Perhaps Turkey is still up for scrutiny and more talks.

[Shannon]

Well Turkey hasnt actaully started the talks as such yet, they are just getting into that!

[catreyn]

My understanding of it all is that the EU has basically said 'terms and conditions apply' re full membership. One of these conditions is that every country within the EU is allowed the same trading conditions, regardless of past associations or conflicts with Turkey, hence the emphasis on Cyprus.
The talks haven't started yet and won't do so until all the conditions have been met. These include legal reforms, military reforms, etc to bring Turkey in line with European ideals. Currently the forecast is that Turkey will be a full member of the EU by 2013-2015.
There is a section of EU citizens that feel the EU is throwing up more and more terms that must be agreed to before talks begin. This group believes that Turkey has been allowed in as far as the EU are going to leave them and that Turkey are actually better off where they are, ie as a trading partner only.
From what I've read, there must be consensus between all EU members before Turkey will be allowed in. France is strongly against allowing such a predominantly Muslim country to join, and then there's all the past issues with Greece...
If you want to keep up to speed on what's going on, check out the Economist magazine. It's not actually all money/stocks/shares/etc, it's more current affairs. They usually have a section on Europe and the goings-on as regards politics. http://www.economist.com