Association Council

The Türkiye-EU Association Council was established under the Ankara Agreement, which entered into force on 1 December 1964, and held its first meeting on the same date.

Pursuant to Article 22 of the Ankara Agreement, the Association Council, which has the authority to take decisions “in cases provided for in the Agreement” and when deemed necessary to achieve the objectives of the Agreement, is the highest body of the Türkiye-EU association relations.

The Association Council consists of members representing the Government of the Republic of Türkiye, members representing the governments of EU member states, participating members from the Council of the EU and the European Commission. Within this framework, the Vice-President of the European Commission/High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy or the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the member state holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU, the EU Commissioner responsible for Enlargement as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Director for EU Affairs from Türkiye attend the Association Council.

The Association Council is also authorized by the Ankara Agreement to resolve any disputes that may arise between parties. Any dispute regarding the implementation and interpretation of the Agreement which concerns Türkiye, the EU or an EU member state may be brought before the Association Council which may either settle it by decision or refer it to the Court of Justice of the EU (ECJ) or to any other judicial authority.

The Council may decide to set up committees to assist in the performance of its tasks, and in particular, a committee to ensure the continuing cooperation necessary for the proper functioning of this Agreement.

The Association Council's rules of procedure stipulate that the Council meet at least once every six months at Ministerial level. It is also stipulated that the office of President is held for a term of six months by a representative of the EU and a representative of Türkiye alternately. In the Association Council, Türkiye and the EU have one vote each, and decisions are taken unanimously. No decision can be taken in the Association Council without a positive vote from both parties.

The most recent Association Council Meeting was held in Brussels on 15 March 2019.

Please click here for the Association Council Decisions. Türkiye EC Association Council Decisions between 1964-2000 (PDF-Format)

Please click here for Association Council Decisions and the references to EU Official Journal. (English - PDF Format - 8.61 KB) Council Decisions - Turkey