30) External Relations

Content of Chapter

The External Relations Chapter consists of legislation resulting from economic and commercial relations of the European Union with third countries and international organisations as well as international cooperation and humanitarian aid.

The acquis in this field consists mainly of directly binding EU legislation which does not require transposition into national law. Thus, Member States need to comply with the relevant EU legislation and implement its obligations directly. Candidate countries are expected to align their policies progressively with the EU with respect to relations with third countries and international organisations.

For External Relations Chapter, explanatory screening meeting was held on 10 July 2006, bilateral screening meeting was held on 13 September 2006.

Opening Benchmarks

Screening Report for Chapter 30 on External Relations has not been officially communicated to Türkiye. Accorting to the unofficial information, one opening benchmark is envisaged for this Chapter. Türkiye should be making full use of consultation mechanism of the Customs Union. Making consultations with a view to ensuring coherence of Türkiye’s position with European Community in multilateral negotiations, in particular in the World Trade Organisation, on trade in goods.

Progress Achieved

With a view to aligning with the EU Common Commercial Policy, free trade agreements are concluded with third countries. In this regard Türkiye concluded 33 FTA’s. However, 11   agreements were terminated due to the fact that the partner countries became EU members. Currently 18 FTA’s entered into force. The FTA with Syria is suspended. 4 FTAs will enter into force after the completion of internal ratification procedures. The negotiations with Gana is completed, the FTA is expected to be concluded in near future.

Meanwhile, there are 14 countries/country blocs that Türkiye has started FTA negotiations. Morevover, Türkiye has launched initiatives to start negotiations with 10 countries/country blocs.

With a view to aligning with the EU Common Commercial Policy, Regional Agreement on Pan European Mediterrenian Preferential Origin Rules entered into force on 1 February 2014. Besides, studies for the alignment of Commission Regulation No 1063/2010 on GSP measures are underway. Besides, the EU’s Generalized System of Preferences, enabling autonomous preference for less developed and developing countries (importing goods from these countries with lower duties so as to promote their exports) is adopted in terms of its results by Additional Decision to Import Regime Decision and Communique on Generalized System of Preferences which published in the Official Gazette No. 28868 (bis.) of 31 December 2013 based on goods and countries with exemptions.

Türkiye has achieved substantial progress in development policy and humanitarian aid field. Türkiye became a member of the ODSG – the Donor Support Group of OCHA (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) in 1 July 2014. Türkiye carries out its development aids through Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA).

Türkiye’s humanitarian aid has not been realized only on bilateral level, efforts have been taken in order to provide aids through international organisations such as UN Humanitarian Affairs Coordination Office (OCHA) and world Food Programme (WFP). This case has given an international dimension to our external humanitarian aids and our cooperation with international organisations operating in this field has increased. Thus, World Food Programme has characterized our country as “increasing donor”. UNDP decided to move its regional office to Istanbul from Bratislava.

Related DG in the European Commission

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