European Union–Turkey relations

Relations between the European Union (EU) and Turkey were established in 1959, and the institutional framework was formalized with the 1963 Ankara Agreement. Although not a member state of the European Union, Turkey is one of the EU's main partners and both are members of the European Union–Turkey Customs Union. Turkey borders two EU member states: Bulgaria and Greece. While Turkey officially has diplomatic relations with 26 EU member states, it does not have diplomatic relations with 1 EU member state (Cyprus).

Turkey has been an applicant to accede to the EU since 1987. In 1999, Turkey gained candidate status to become a member of the EU. Accession negotiations were started in 2005, but have been stalled since 2016. EU–Turkey relations became strained following the 2016 coup attempt. Relations have remained strained since 2016. The EU has criticised Turkey for human rights violations and deficits in rule of law. In 2017, EU officials expressed the view that planned Turkish policies violate the Copenhagen criteria of eligibility for EU membership. On 26 June 2018, the EU's General Affairs Council noted that "Turkey has been moving further away from the European Union. Turkey's accession negotiations have therefore effectively come to a standstill and no further chapters can be considered for opening or closing and no further work towards the modernisation of the EU-Turkey Customs Union is foreseen."