Privileged partnership

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Privileged partnership is a generic term for increased cooperation between the European Union and a non-EU country to advance common goals, [1] often without pursuing EU membership. [2] [3] [4]

Contents

History

The term was initially used to describe an alternative to EU membership for Turkey that was first floated in November 2002 by Heinrich August Winkler in Die Zeit [5] and later formally proposed in 2004, [6] [7] although the term was used previously in 2003 to describe a proposed relationship with Russia [8] and was also used in 2004 for a proposed relationship with Israel. [9]

Since that time, the term has been used for alternatives for EU membership for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, and Kosovo. [10] It has since been used retrospectively to characterize relationships with the countries [11] [12] [13] considered in 2004 for the European Neighbourhood Policy that were first proposed in the Commission Communication of March 2003, [14] and is also used for the EU's bilateral relationship with Tunisia [15] [16] [17] and with Russia. [18]

Ultimately, the term dates back to 1957 when it was used to characterize Morocco's relationship with the European Economic Community. [19]

By country

Albania

The term was used for a proposed alternative to EU membership for Albania. [10]

Algeria

The term has been used for the proposed relationship with the countries considered in 2004 for the European Neighbourhood Policy, including Algeria. [13]

Armenia

The term has been used for the proposed relationship with the countries considered in 2004 for the European Neighbourhood Policy, including Armenia. [13]

Azerbaijan

The term has been used for the proposed relationship with the countries considered in 2004 for the European Neighbourhood Policy, including Azerbaijan. [13]

Belarus

The term has been used for the proposed relationship with the countries considered in 2004 for the European Neighbourhood Policy, including Belarus. [13]

Bosnia and Herzegovina

The term was used for a proposed alternative to EU membership for Bosnia and Herzegovina. [10]

Croatia

The term was used for a proposed alternative to EU membership for Croatia. The option was dropped in favor of full membership. Croatia joined the union in July 2013. [10]

Egypt

The term has been used for the proposed relationship with the countries considered in 2004 for the European Neighbourhood Policy, including Egypt. [13]

North Macedonia

The term was used for a proposed alternative to EU membership for North Macedonia. [10]

Georgia

The term has been used for the proposed relationship with the countries considered in 2004 for the European Neighbourhood Policy, including Georgia. [13]

Israel

The term was used by Spanish foreign minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos, who spoke out for a "privileged partnership, offering all the benefits of EU membership, without participation in the institutions" for Israel. [9] It was also used for the proposed relationship with the countries considered in 2004 for the European Neighbourhood Policy, including Israel. [13]

Jordan

The term has been used for the proposed relationship with the countries considered in 2004 for the European Neighbourhood Policy, including Jordan. [13]

Kosovo

The term was used for a proposed alternative to EU membership for Kosovo. [10]

Lebanon

The term has been used for the proposed relationship with the countries considered in 2004 for the European Neighbourhood Policy, including Lebanon. [13]

Libya

The term has been used for the proposed relationship with the countries considered in 2004 for the European Neighbourhood Policy, including Libya. [13]

Moldova

The term has been used for the proposed relationship with the countries considered in 2004 for the European Neighbourhood Policy, including Moldova. [13]

Morocco

The term has been used for the proposed relationship with the countries considered in 2004 for the European Neighbourhood Policy, including Morocco. [13]

Palestine

The term has been used for the proposed relationship with the countries considered in 2004 for the European Neighbourhood Policy, including the Palestinian Authority. [13]

Russia

French President Jacques Chirac used the term for a proposed Russia-EU relationship at the Russia-EU summit in 2003. [8]

Serbia and Montenegro

The term was used for a proposed alternative to EU membership for Serbia and Montenegro. [10]

Syria

The term has been used for the proposed relationship with the countries considered in 2004 for the European Neighbourhood Policy, including Syria. [13]

Tunisia

The term has been used for the proposed relationship with the countries considered in 2004 for the European Neighbourhood Policy, including Tunisia. [13]

Turkey

Privileged partnership (Turkish : İmtiyazlı ortaklık) was the term used by Angela Merkel in February 2004 [6] to describe a future relationship between Turkey and the European Union which fell short of full membership. The proposal was advanced by CDU/CSU members. [7]

Ukraine

The term has been used for the proposed relationship with the countries considered in 2004 for the European Neighbourhood Policy, including Ukraine. [13]

United Kingdom

The term was used by Jacques Delors for a proposed relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom should it exit the EU. [20]

See also

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References

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  7. 1 2 "Preserving Europe : Offer Turkey a privileged partnership instead" By Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, Wednesday, 15 December 2004, see here
  8. 1 2 Team, Editorial (31 May 2003). "French president speaks for Russia-EU privileged partnership". PravdaReport. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
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  19. "Neighborhood and Enlargement Policy: Comparing the Democratization Impact of the European Union in Morocco and Turkey", Martina Warning, WP 4/2006, CIRES (Italian Research Centre for European Studies), see here Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  20. "Britain could leave EU, says Jacques Delors", 28/12/2012, from France 24, see here