Time to Enhance the Customs Union

Abstract

Everyone seems to agree that the time has come to expand the Customs Union between Turkey and the European Union. A quarter of a century has gone by since it was launched at the start of 1996. At the time it was considered a step towards the full political and economic integration of Turkey into the EU. That is why it was modelled on the ‘Zollverein’, a 19th century customs union between German states. Turkey had – and still has – no objection to that. It has also been promised full EU membership, which in either case would supersede the customs union.