Proceedings of the 34th International Academic Conference, Florence

THE CONTINENTAL PARTNERSHIP: A FEASIBLE OPTION FOR TURKEY INSTEAD OF FULL MEMBERSHIP TO THE EUROPEAN UNION?

UĞUR BURÇ YILDIZ

Abstract:

Turkey’s accession to European Union membership appears to be impossible for several important reasons. Thus, instead of full membership, Turkey may look for alternative options to benefit from the European Union integration project. One option could be the Continental Partnership, proposed by the Brussels-based Bruegel think tank. This article investigates the feasibility of this offer for Turkey. It is argued that this new method of cooperation provides significant economic benefits since the European Union would grant free movement of basic agricultural products and free movement of services and capital, abolish Schengen visas for Turkish businessmen and company managers for three months and include Turkey in the Common Commercial Policy, which is closely related to the Single Market project. Participating in the intergovernmental Continental Partnership Council would also bring Turkey significant political benefits by protecting its commercial, security and defense policy interests before new European Union legislations are adopted.

Keywords: Continental Partnership, Turkey, European Union, United Kingdom, Brexit.

DOI: 10.20472/IAC.2017.034.060

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