Key objectives of the Barcelona Process

The Barcelona Declaration adopted at the Barcelona Conference expresses the 27 partners’ intention to:

· Establish a common Euro-Mediterranean area of peace and stability based on fundamental principles including respect for human rights and democracy (political and security partnership),

· Create an area of shared prosperity through the progressive establishment of a free-trade area between the EU and its Partners and among the Mediterranean Partners themselves, accompanied by substantial EU financial support for economic transition in the Partners and for the social and economic consequences of this reform process (economic and financial partnership), and

· Develop human resources, promote understanding between cultures and rapprochement of the people in the Euro-Mediterranean region as well as to develop free and flourishing civil societies (social, cultural and human partnership).

For self preparation: Common strategy of the EU in the Mediterranean region (Fairy Conference, 2000, 19-20 June).

Turkey

Although the EU has decided that Turkey does not yet meet all the criteria for full membership of the Union, it has frequently reaffirmed Turkey's eligibility for EU membership. Turkey applied for full membership in 1988, but the Commission recommended an alternative path, including steadily closer economic relations, a strategy that both sides are implementing. Since 1995, the EU and Turkey are joined in a Customs Union that provides for enhanced economic cooperation. An accompanying financial protocol has not yet been implemented, but efforts are continuing to bring it into force. In 1998, the EU invited Turkey to participate in the launch of a high level European Conference on issues including transnational organized crime, foreign and security policy, regional cooperation and economic and social policy. In August 1999, following a devastating earthquake in Turkey, the EU immediately responded with humanitarian assistance and a few months later Turkey officially became an "applicant" to the EU accession.