ABSTRACT
Turkey's path towards a Customs Union with the European Union (EU) has been long and tortuous. The EEC and Turkey concluded an Association Agreement, which came into force in 1964. Turkish membership would constitute an overwhelming strain on the Common Agricultural Policy and the free movement of labour would result in calamitous migrations. For purely practical reasons it was necessary to find other forms of cooperation, and the Customs Union again became the solution. The debate in the European Parliament regarding the Customs Union demonstrated the existence of a strong body of opinion which was critical of or at least doubtful about Turkey's belonging to Europe, and which wished to prevent or at least put off the Customs Union. It focused on Turkey's lack of ability to conform to Western concepts of law and to handle the Human Rights and Kurdish questions.
