Timeline: Turkey and the EU

February 18 1952

Turkey becomes a full member of Nato.

September 20 1959

Turkey applies to the European Economic Community (EEC) to become an associate member.

September 12 1963

Turkey is made an associate member of the EEC.

July 22 1970

Turkey and the now-named European Communities (EC) sign an agreement foreseeing Turkey's eventual full membership of the bloc.

July 20 1974

Turkey invades Cyprus by sea and air following the failure of diplomatic efforts to resolve conflicts between Turkish and Greek Cypriots. After gaining control over 40% of the island, Turkey unilaterally declares a ceasefire.

February 13 1975

Turkish Cypriots establish their own state in the north of the island. Later that year Turkey takes control of most of the US installations within that territory, except the joint defence base at Incirlik, which it reserves for "Nato tasks alone".

1978-79

The EC suggests that Turkey applies for membership along with Greece. Ankara declines the suggestion.

September 12 1980

After months of street fighting between rival leftwing and rightwing factions, an army coup topples the Turkish government. Military rule is imposed. Relations with the EC are virtually frozen.

1983

Northern Cyprus declares its territory as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The state is recognised by no one else but mainland Turkey.

Parliamentary elections are held in Turkey and military rule is ended. Relations with the EC begin to normalise.

May 1984

The Council of Europe accepts the participation of Turkish parliamentarians.

January 26 1987

Turkey recognises the right of its citizens to file complaints with the European human rights commission.

April 14 1987

Turkey applies to the EC for full membership.

December 18 1989

The European commission endorses Turkey's eligibility for membership, but defers the assessment of its application.

January 1 1996

A customs union between the now-named European Union (EU) and Turkey enters into force. Turkey abolishes duties on imports of industrial goods from EU nations, as other EU member states have already done.

December 13 1997

At a meeting in Luxembourg, EU leaders decline to grant candidate status to Turkey. Ankara reacts angrily, effectively freezing relations and contacts.

June 2 1999

The leader of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' party, Abdullah Ocalan, is convicted by Turkey of treason and separatism and sentenced to death.

December 10 1999

An EU summit in Helsinki agrees to recognise Turkey as an applicant country. Turkey accepts the conditions after much hesitation.

October 3 2001

Turkey overhauls much of its military-drafted constitution to fulfil EU political criteria.

August 3 2002

The Turkish parliament passes sweeping reforms, including the abolition of the death penalty and the easing of bans on the use of the Kurdish language, to meet some of the EU's human rights criteria.

November 3 2002

The conservative Justice and Development party, which has Islamic roots, wins a general election partially on a pledge to drive forward Turkey's sagging EU bid.

December 11 2002

The Turkish parliament overwhelmingly approves a package of human rights reforms, including sanctions against torture, but stops short of full ratification pending technical procedures.

December 12 2002

The EU summit at Copenhagen decides to accept Cyprus in May 2004, despite faltering talks to reunify the island. It proposes a December 2004 review of Turkey's progress in fulfilling human rights criteria for EU membership, with a view to setting a date for accession talks if the outcome is positive. Turkey, seeking a clear 2003 date and worried that the foundering Cyprus issue will scupper its chances, reacts angrily.