Turkey and EU agrees to update Customs Union

Turkey?s Justice and Development Party (AKP) government and the European Union have quietly decided to upgrade the Customs Union which, in the long run, might serve to stop ?corruption allegations? and also boost the country?s competitiveness.

Talks about revising the Customs Union, which is in its 20th year, have long been on the agenda. Finally Ankara and the 28-nation bloc agreed on a road map last week, according to which the European Commission will first prepare an impact assessment report, diplomatic sources familiar with the issue told the Daily News.

Following the impact assessment report, which is expected to be ready by the end of the year, the commission will receive a mandate from member countries to start negotiating with Turkey, something that requires the consent of all of 28 members.

Turkey has long been complaining that while it is obligated to align with EU legislation, it cannot participate in decision-making in areas related to the Customs Union. Another issue of concern was about free trade agreements signed between EU and third countries. The refusal of third countries to conclude free trade agreements with Turkey has worked to the disadvantage of Turkey; the Turkish government is especially worried about the prospect of exclusion from the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the United States and the EU.

As the two sides have not been able to find common ground for a long time, some Turkish ministers have even threatened to remove Turkey from the Customs Union.

Following intense talks between Ankara and Brussels, the EU has at last accepted the need to revise the Customs Union while Turkey, in return, revised its decision to refuse to negotiate on certain issues, such as...