Sinan Ulgen: Europe needs a new framework for Turkey

Source:Financial Times Date:20Nov2023

The writer is the director of the Istanbul-based Edam think-tank and a senior fellow at Carnegie Europe

Sinan Ulgen finds a way to square the circle, seperate  accession from a new Customs Union

Third, the new framework should aim to improve Turkish governance, in contrast to the accession track which remains focused on political rights. A concrete achievement can be the green-lighting of negotiations for the deepening of the Turkey-EU customs union. Broadening this arrangement to include services would lead to Turkey’s policies converging with those of the EU, enhancing policy predictability and the rule of law. This initiative, along with visa liberalisation, policy convergence in green and digital sectors, energy collaboration and joint diplomacy in Africa and Central Asia, could profoundly reshape Turkey-EU political relations.