Memorandum submitted by the Directorate-General
for Trade, European Commission
I refer to your letter to Mr Garcia Bercero
dated 14 November 2007, in which you ask for evidence on a number
of issues, including on trade and investment relationship with
Turkey, and how this relationship might be expected to change
should Turkey accede to the EU.
You are aware that a customs union between the
EU and Turkey is already in place, enabling the full and free
trade in industrial goods. Apart from agriculture products and
punctual trade defence measures, the trade in goods is totally
free and all tariff duties have been eliminated.
Upon accession to the EU, and subject to possible
temporary transitory measures, the EU and Turkey would further
enjoy inter alia all rights relating to free movement of
people, services and capital movements.
However, I would like to underline that there
will not be a sort of big bang upon accession of Turkey. Indeed,
the EU-Turkey trade relationship is already very important (Turkey
is our seventh most important world trade partner) and there are
already important flows in investments and trade in services,
and both trade and investments will increase progressively over
the next years up to the accession. The programme alignment to
the acquis communautaire which Turkey has started to undertake
with framework of the accession process will bring Turkey and
the EU gradually closer. Should you require any further information,
please do not hesitate to contact me.
January 2008
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