1 January 2012

Italy abolished the labor market restrictions for the citizens of Bulgaria and Romania. Germany also eased restrictions and did not require a work permit for skilled workers with a university degree of Bulgaria and Romania.

“European year of Active Aging and Solidarity between Generations” started.

10 January 2012

The Copenhagen City Court qualified the PKK as a terrorist organization and stated that ROJ TV makes propaganda on behalf of the PKK and advocates terrorism.

In the case of “Lordos and Others” sued by Greek Cypriots, Turkey was sentenced to 20.830 million Euros by the European Court of Human Rights.

13 January 2012

Rauf Denktaş founding President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus died.

Standard & Poor’s downgraded the ratings of nine Member States of the Eurozone.

The European Commission pointed out to the improvement made by Turkey regarding macroeconomic indicators in its quarterly report on the economic conditions of the candidate and potential candidate countries.

16 January 2012

The Delegation EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee went to Strasburg (16-18 January).

17 January 2012

The European Parliament elected former Social Democrat Group Leader Martin Schulz as the new President of the European Parliament.

The European Commission launched accelerated infringement proceedings against Hungary over the Central Bank and data protection authorities as well as over measures affecting the judiciary.

18 January 2012

Jean-Maurice Ripert officially took office as the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Turkey.

19 January 2012

Eutelsat, a French Satellite Company, suspended the satellite carriage of Roj TV.

22 January 2012

President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Derviş Eroğlu; President of  Greek Administration of Southern Cyprus, Demetris Christofias and UN Secretary-General, Ban-Ki Moon,  came together at the Greentree Meeting (22-24 January).

23 January 2012

The adoption of the draft law criminalizing denial of so-called Armenian genocide by the French Parliament was strongly protested.

EU Foreign Affairs Council agreed on imposing an embargo on Iranian crude oil imports. Given the Syrian regime’s continuing use of violence against civilians, the Council added 22 more individuals and 8 more entities to be subject to the sanction list.

Eurozone Finance Ministers discussed the second recovery package and the debt restructuring for Greece.

Elmar Brok, German Christian Democrat, was elected as the chairman of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee

24 January 2012

EU Economic and Financial Committee finalized the framework of the fiscal compact.

25 January 2012

Bulgaria approved the regulation which enables Turkish citizens who have green passports and a Schengen visa to travel without visa.

The European Commission presented a comprehensive proposal on the data protection that revises the current rules.

26 January 2012

Anti Counterfeiting Trade Agreement was signed by the representatives of EU and of 22 Member States in Tokyo.

The Justice and Home Affairs Council agreed that Frontex will provide assistance to EU countries that are exposed to a migration wave.

27 January 2012

The European Commission published the strategy document entitled as “Trade, Growth and Development: Tailoring Trade and Investment Policy for Those Countries Most in Need.”

30 January 2012

During an unofficial meeting of the EU Council, all EU Member States except United Kingdom and Czech Republic agreed on the "Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union"

Member States of the Eurozone agreed on the establishment of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM).

31 January 2012

French Senators appealed to the Constitutional Council to repeal the law proposal criminalizing the denial of the so-called Armenian genocide.

1 February 2012

The European Commission welcomed the third judicial package presented by the Turkish Ministry of Justice.

2 February 2012

The Treaty establishing the European Stability Mechanism was signed by Member States of the Eurozone.

6 February 2012

Due to the protests against the austerity measures taken in Romania, Prime Minister Emil Boc resigned.Mihai Răzvan Ungureanu was then elected Prime Minister.

The government of China prohibited Chinese airlines from joining the Emission Trade System.

7 February 2012

The 20^th anniversary of the Maastricht Treaty establishing the European Union was celebrated.

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator for EU, Egemen Bağış visited Brussels to meet with representatives of the European Parliament and the European Commission.

The European Commission refused Greece’s request for help to build a razor wire fence along its land border with Turkey.

8 February 2012

The European Commission's interim Cooperation and Verification Mechanism Report indicated that both Bulgaria and Romania are not ready to join the Schengen area.

9 February 2012

European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy, Štefan Füle and the European Commissioner for Energy, Günther Oettinger visited Turkey.

Commissioner responsible for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva, visited Turkey in order to discuss with Turkish authorities the opportunities for closer cooperation in the field of responding to disasters and improving emergency management.

10 February 2012

The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly reacted against Greece’s plan to build a razor wire fence along its land border with Turkey in an effort to curb a seemingly endless influx of migrants.

Greek Parliament approved the austerity measures imposed to secure a second 130 billion Euros bailout and to avoid debt default.

EU Member States gave the green light to the European Commission to sign Turkey-EU Horizontal Air Transport Agreement, which was initialed on the 25^th March 2010.

Moody's downgraded the government bond ratings of Italy, Malta, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain and changed the ratings of Austria, France and UK to negative.

The European Commission approved the strategic paper and the action plan regarding the sustainable use of the renewable sources.

The first EU Classification and Labeling Inventory of the Chemicals on the EU Market was published.

14 February 2012

The European Commission published the first Alert Mechanism Report, prepared in accordance with the Regulation on the strengthening of the economic surveillance of Member States.

15 February 2012

The European Parliament published a declaration in order to force Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to return the city of Famagusta to Greeks, considered as “the legal inhabitants” of the area.

17 February 2012

The 21^st EU Information Centre opened in Bahçeşehir University in Istanbul.

President of Germany, Christian Woolf, resigned after the demand for the abolition of immunity due to the allegations on financial corruption made against him .

20 February 2012

The European Parliament Women Rights and Gender Equality Committee visited Ankara in order to gather information on the gender equality politics and women rights min Turkey.

President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Derviş Eroğlu; President of Greek Administration of Southern Cyprus, Demetris Christofias met to talk upon the developments in Cyprus negotiations in Lefkosa.

22 February 2012

European Parliament President Martin Schulz sent a letter to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Turkish government Spokesman Cemil Çiçek regarding the process of establishing a new constitution.

The European Court of Human Rights ruled against Turkey in the case of Erbil Tuşalp, a Turkish journalist sentenced to pay damages to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for defamation actions, indicating that Tuşalp’s right to freedom of expression had been violated.

23 February 2012

The 68^th Meeting of Turkey-EU Joint Parliament Commission was held in Istanbul.

Delegations of Belgrade and Pristine agreed on the representational and the integrated border management of Kosovo.

Finance Ministers and Presidents of Central banks of G-20 countries came together in Mexico City.

27 February 2012

The EU Foreign Affairs Council decided to strengthen the sanctions imposed to the supporters of the Assad regime in Syria.

28 February 2012

French Constitutional Council abolished the law criminalizing the denial of so-called Armenian genocide.

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator, Egemen Bağış, visited UK. (29February-1March).

Fiscal compact was signed by all EU Member States with the exception of the Czech Republic and UK.

The Turkish Parliament approved the "Draft Bill to Protect the Family and for the Prevention of Violence against Women"

The Standing Committee of the European Council Parliamentary Assembly approved the report entitled "The situation of the Greek citizens of Turkish decent in Rhodes and Kos" prepared by Swish socialist reporter Andreas Gross who is a member of the Human Rights Committee.

11 March 2012

Social Democratic Party (Smer-SD) under the leadership of former Prime Minister Robert Fiza, won the Slovak parliamentary election.

12 March 2012

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon presented the draft of the Cyprus report to the UN Security Council.

Eurozone Finance Ministers agreed on the second recovery package, aiming at stabilizing the Greek economy.

13 March 2012

The European Parliamentary Assembly approved two drafts resolutions in regards to “increasing women’s representation in decision-making bodies and equality between men and women.”

14 March 2012

The Dutch State Council rules its decision allowing Turkish citizens to enter the Netherlands without requiring visa as a service provider in Turkish companies.

The website publishing the decisions rules by the European Court of Human Rights on Turkey and the translations into Turkish of some of the important decisions was launched by the Turkish Ministry of Justice.

The European Parliamentary Assembly approved three different EP reports on the progress of Macedonia and Iceland (candidate countries) and Bosnia Herzegovina (potential candidate countries).

16 March 2012

20 March 2012

The circular on the implementation of the single-window system in the custom services of Turkey entered into force following its publication in the Official Journal.

22 March 2012

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu visited Brussels at the invitation of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton,

27 March 2012

European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy, Štefan Füle, officially launched the feasibility study for a Stabilization and Association Agreement with Kosovo.

With a written statement released by Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator, Egemen Bağış, called on EU Member States and the European Commission to implement the decisions of some national courts and the European Court of Justice for the liberalization of visa for Turkish citizens

Co-Chairman of Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission, Afif Demirkıran, sent a letter to the European Parliament’s Rapporteur on Turkey, Ria Oomen-Ruijten, and to the Co-chairman of EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Commission Hélène Flautre, regarding the 4+4+4 education reform.

The European Commission proposed the establishment of a European Cybercrime Centre within the Europol.

29 March 2012

The European Parliament resolution on the 2011 Progress Report on Turkey, Serbia, Kosovo and Montenegro was approved by the General Assembly.

30 March 2012

EU and Ukraine initialed the Association Agreement that also includes a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area.

The European Citizens’ Initiative, which empowers EU citizens to work together across borders and to become more active role in shaping democratic decisions, entered into force.

OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović, released a report on the imprisoned journalists in Turkey.

UK Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee released a report on “UK-Turkey Relations and Turkey's Regional Role’ drawing attention to the efficiency of Turkish economy in the international area.

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bağış visited Romania (4-5 April).

Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynerds visited Turkey (4-6 April).

The law on civil servants’ trade unions was amended by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey to include provisions on their right to collective bargaining.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced a new investment incentive scheme.

10 April 2012

The United States and the European Union, under the auspices of the Transatlantic Economic Council, announced an agreement on Shared Principles for International Investment.

11 April 2012

12 April 2012

The 120^th Annual Meeting of EU-Turkey Joint Committee was held in Brussels.

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bağış visited Malta (12-14 April).

14 April 2012

16 April 2012

President Abdullah Gül paid an official visit to the Netherlands (16-19 April).

17 April 2012

Prime Minister of Finland, Jyrki Katainen and Minister for EU Affairs and Foreign Trade, Alexander Stubb hold official talks in Turkey (17-20 April).

18 April 2012

The representatives of the Council of Europe, who gathered in Brighton, agreed on a package of concrete reforms to ensure that the European Court of Justice can be more effective.

EU reacted to the statement made by the Swiss government that the citizens of central and eastern European countries, which joined the EU in 2004, will have to seek authorization to work in Switzerland starting from the 1^st May 2012.

19 April 2012

The General Assembly of the European Parliament adopted the agreement between the United States and the European Union on the use and sharing Passenger Name Records (PNR) with the American officials.

25 April 2012

The Consulate General of France in Istanbul began granting visas by fingerprint scanning.

A Regulation on the Monitoring of Greenhouse Gas Emissions” entered into force with its publication in the Official Journal.

26 April 2012

Turkish Petroleum Corporation, authorized by the government of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, launched natural gas and oil exploration in its territories.

The European Parliament's Committee on Budget visited Turkey (3-4May).

EU adopted an international agreement which revises the Gothenburg Protocol for air pollution in Europe.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made an official visit to Slovenia (6-7May).

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan went to Italy to attend the 2^nd Turkey-Italy Intergovernmental Summit.

The European Commission launched a two million euro project on the preservation of the cultural heritage in Cyprus.

The European Council adopted a regulation concerning the use and marketing of biocidal products.

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu paid an official visit to Estonia at invitation of Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet.

Vice President of the European Commission and Commissioner of Transport, Siim Kallas visited Turkey with the aim of strengthening cooperation between the EU & Turkey in transportation. (15-16 May).

The European Commission and the European External Action Service adopted the European Neighborhood Policy package evaluating the progress made in twelve neighboring countries over the past year and sharing recommendations for the way forward.

The European Commission adopted its first report on the functioning of the Schengen area

European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy, Štefan and Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator, Egemen Bağış launched the Positive Agenda in EU-Turkey relations, which aims to provide new momentum to Turkey's accession process.

The European Commission launched “Your First EURES job” pilot project to help young people find jobs in another EU Member State and to tackle youth unemployment in the aftermath of the economic crisis.

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bağış visited Belgium.

The European Parliamentary Assembly adopted the report on a 2020 Perspective for Women in Turkey prepared by Turkish-origin Dutch Socialist Parliamentarian Emine Bozkurt.

The Inter-Enterprise Agreement was signed in order to initiate a pilot phase on project bonds in July 2012.

At the informal meeting, EU leaders could not find a compromise on Eurobonds and urged Greece to stay in the Eurozone.

The European Commission published a report which emphasizes the inadequacy of the national strategies for the economic and social integration of Roman nationals in EU Member States.

The Foreign Affairs Committee of Spain rejected a resolution proposal on officially recognizing the events of 1915 as genocide.

Danish Foreign Minister Villy Sovndal whose country holds the EU Presidency visited Turkey at the invitation of Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu.

President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz visited Turkey at the invitation of Turkish government Spokesman Cemil Çiçek.

Turkey signed a memorandum of understanding with Frontex with the aim to strengthen cooperation against illegal immigration.

The European Commission published the recommendations on economic reforms and budget measures for creating employment opportunities and assuring financial stability in the EU.

Danish Minister for EU Affairs Nicolai Wammen paid an official visit to Turkey (30May-1 June).

The Turkish Parliament adopted a legislation that would ban strikes and lockouts in the aviation sector.

The fiscal compact was approved by the Irish voters in the referendum held in Ireland.

The 29^th EU-Russia Summit was held in St. Petersburg, Russia.

The World Economic Forum on the Middle East, North Africa and Eurasia was held in Istanbul (4-6June).

The 3^rd Turkey-EU Ministerial Political Dialogue Meeting was held in Istanbul.

Greece launched a visa procedure that allows Turkish nationals to visit the Greek Eastern Aegean islands without a relevant visa issued at Greek consulates (According to the program, Turkish tourists that wish to visit the islands of for less than 15 days could issue visas at the ports of the islands).

The Eurozone Finance Ministers agreed to lend Spain up to 100 billion Euros to shore up its teetering banks.  

The European Commission, European Parliament and EU Council agreed on a new joint approach to ensure the independency of EU agencies.

The 69^th meeting of Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee was held in Strasbourg (13-14 June).

The European Parliament adopted the Commission's proposal to reform the scheme of Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) by giving a greater focus on the countries which are the most in need.

The Enhanced EU-Turkey Energy Cooperation Meeting was held in the framework of the Positive Agenda for Turkey.

Prime Minister of Denmark Helle Thorning- Schmidt who runs the EU Presidency visited Turkey.

The European Commission presented its visa roadmap to Kosovo government.

The Conservative New Democratic Party, which urges Greece to stay in the Eurozone, won the general election in Greece.

The Socialist Party won the general election in France.

The 7^th G-20 Summit was held in Los Cabos, Mexico (18-19 June).

The first meeting of Company Law Working Group, which has been established in the framework of “Positive Agenda” was held in Brussels.

European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy, Štefan Füle visited Cyprus (19-20 June).

European Commissioner responsible for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva, visited the Syrian refugees, who have been forced to flee their country because of the deteriorating situation, at the refugee camp in Kilis.

EU Permanent Representatives Committee authorized the European Commission to conduct visa exemption talks with Turkey and to negotiate a Readmission Agreement between EU and Turkey.

The first meeting of Financial Control Working Group, which has been established in the framework of “Positive Agenda” was held in Brussels.

The UN Sustainable Development Conference, known as Rio+20, was held in Rio de Janeiro (20-22 June).

EU Council for Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs approved COREPER’s recommendation on giving the European Commission the authorization to conduct visa exemption talks with Turkey.

Turkey’s Permanent Representative to the EU, Selim Yenel and the European Commission’s Director General of Home Affairs, Stefano Manservisi, initialized the Readmission Agreement.

The 50^th Meeting of Turkey-EU Association Council was held in Brussels.

Turkey reacted against the interception of Turkish military F-4 reconnaissance aircraft by Syria in the international air space of the Eastern Mediterranean.

 Three new negotiating chapters (“Transport Policy”, “Social Policy and Employment” and “Financial Control”) were opened at a meeting at ministerial level in Brussels of the Accession Conference with Iceland.

Greek Administration of Southern Cyprus asked EU for financial assistance to shore up its banks and Spain officially requested a banking bailout.

At the meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Council, EU condemned the interception of Turkish military aircraft by Syria and decided that the EU would impose sanctions against six institutions and companies responsible for human rights violations in Syria.

The 30^th Meeting of Turkey-EU Joint Consultation Committee was held in Berlin, Germany (26-27June).

The Inter-Governmental Agreement for the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline Project  was signed.

EU signed a multilateral free trade agreement with Peru and Colombia.

EU Council adopted the SEVESO III Directive revising the existing rules on the control of major accident hazards involving dangerous substances.  

The 27^th Meeting of the Customs Union Joint Committee was held in Ankara (27-28 June).

An Association and Cooperation Agreement was signed between EU and Vietnam.

The European Commission launched the High Level Dialogue on the Accession Process of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

At the EU Summit, leaders adopted the Compact for Growth and Jobs to restore growth and to establish a stronger union and also agreed to start the EU membership negotiations with Montenegro.

16 EU Foreign Ministers wrote an article entitled “The EU and Turkey: Stronger Together” that emphasizes the crucial importance of the Turkey-EU relations.

EU officially started the accession negotiations with Montenegro.

EU signed an Association Agreement with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.

Greek Administration of Southern Cyprus took over the EU Presidency.

The EU organic logo “Euro-leaf” became obligatory.

Fourteen Turks of Western Thrace from Greece won a lawsuit against Greece at the European Court of Human Rights.

The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement was rejected by the European Parliament.

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu visited France.

The 3^rd Judiciary Reform Package aiming at increasing the efficiency of judiciary services and on postponement of cases and sentences related to offences committed through the press entered into force with its publication on the Official Journal.

The European Parliament adopted the Project Bond Initiative to finance large European infrastructures in the field of transport, energy and information technology.

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bağış met with Irish Minister for EU Affairs Lucinda Creighton.

EU and the Philippines signed an Association and Cooperation Agreement.

The first meeting of “Statistics” Working Group, which has been established in the framework of “Positive Agenda” was held in Brussels.

EU joined the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.

UK launched a comprehensive review of the EU’s competences.

Dutch Minister for Migration and Integration, Gerd Leers sent an official statement to the House of Representatives of the Netherlands which states that Turkish service providers and self-employed Turks would be able to enter the Netherlands without requiring a visa.

The European Commission and five of leading research institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the achievement of the European Research Area by 2014.

The Regulation on the use and marketing of biocidal products entered into force.

The European Commission closed the infringement procedure on the independence of the Hungarian Central Bank.

The Eurozone Financial Ministers agreed on the bailout for the recapitalization of the Spanish banks.

At the EU Foreign Affairs Council, liders agreed on measures to strengthen the enforcement of its arms embargo against Syria in order to end the human rights violations in Syria and agreed to lift the sanctions against Zimbabwe.

EU and Angola signed a new Cooperation Agreement.

 The European Commission signed an amended Visa Facilitation Agreement with Ukraine.

Leading European business associations from nine different countries (BUSINESSEUROPE) published a press release entitled “Economic Growth instead of Visa-Barriers”.

The European Data Access Service (EDAS) was launched.

1 August 2012

Turkey and South Korea signed a Free Trade Agreement.

“The Agreement between the Republic of Turkey and the Federal Republic of Germany for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income” entered into force.

8 August 2012

German Green Party Co-leader Claudia Roth visited Turkey (8-9 August).

11 August 2012

U.S Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Turkey.

13 August 2012

The WEEE Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (n^o 2012/19) and the SEVESO III Directive revising the existing rules on the control of major accident hazards involving dangerous substances (n^o 2012/18) entered into force.

17 August 2012

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius visited Turkey.

22 August 2012

Russia became the 156^th member of the World Trade Organization.

28 August 2012

Australia joined the EU Emission Trading System.

3 September 2012

Germany launched a visa facilitation program for Turkish citizens who apply for a Schengen for less than three months.

6 September 2012

President of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi outlined the details of a new bond-buying program to buy the bonds of the debt-burdened Eurozone countries.

7 September 2012

At the informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers (Gymnich), Ministers discussed the latest developments in Syria, the issue of water resources and education as horizontal policies and the negotiations on the nuclear program of Iran.

11 September 2012

The European Commission withdrew its draft legislative proposal (known as Monti II Regulation) on the relationship of economic freedoms and the right to collective actions. 

12 September 2012

President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso delivered “the State of the Union Address”.

The European Commission proposed a draft legislation concerning the establishment of a Single Supervisory Mechanism for the Banking Union.

The Liberal Party (VVD) won the early general election in the Netherlands.

German Constitutional Court enabled Germany to ratify European System Mechanism but presented some conditions.

13 September 2012

The Istanbul Chamber of Commerce signed a business visa facilitation agreement with the Dutch Consulate General.

The European Commission temporarily approved a 1,8 billion Euros bailout for the recapitalization of the second biggest bank of Cyprus (Laiki Bank).

The European Commission adopted the Directive entitled “Blue Growth”.

18 September 2012

The 5^th EU-South Africa Summit was held in Brussels.

19 September 2012

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bağış visited Portugal.

20 September 2012

The 15^th EU-China Summit was held in Brussels.

The first meeting of “Information Society and Media” Working Group, which has been established in the framework of “Positive Agenda” was held in Brussels

27 September 2012

The European Commission outlined the new strategy to encourage public and private sectors to the use cloud computing services.

2 October 2012

Deputy of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Nick Clegg aalong with a business delegation visited Turkey (2-4 October).

3 October 2012

The European Commission presented the Single Market Act II to deepen the Single Market.

Turkey and the international community reacted against the Syrian shelling that killed five civilians in the Turkish border town of Akçakale.

4 October 2012

The first meeting of “Consumer and Health Protection” Working Group, which has been established in the framework of “Positive Agenda” was held in Brussels.

6 October 2012

Former President of the European Parliament Pat Cox and 22 former Members of the European Parliament visited Turkey (6-14 October).

8 October 2012

The European Stability Mechanism began to be operational.

EU and UNESCO signed a memorandum of understanding with a view to enhancing the dialogue and to promoting the cooperation.

9 October 2012

The EU Economic and Financial Affairs Council meeting was held in Luxembourg.

10 October 2012

The European Commission published the Progress Reports on Turkey, Western Balkan countries and Iceland, and adopted the 2012-2013 Enlargement Strategy.

At the meeting of the EU Competitiveness Council, the EU agreed on the rules of participation in projects funded under "Horizon 2020".

12 October 2012

EU won the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize for “promoting peace, understanding, democracy and human rights over sixty years”.

The third and fourth satellites were launched from French Guiana within the scope of Galileo navigation satellite system built by (EU) and the European Space Agency.

13 October 2012

German Foreign Minister Guido Westervelle visited Turkey.

15 October 2012

Crown Prince Philippe of Belgium, accompanied by a delegation of 400 businessmen came to Turkey within the framework of an economic mission (15-19October).

The EU Foreign Affairs Council reinforced its sanctions against the Syria, adopted additional restrictive measures against Iran and prolonged the existing restrictive measures against Belarus.

16 October 2012

European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, John Dalli resigned over corruption allegations.

18 October 2012

EU leaders at their summit agreed to finalize the legal framework of a single mechanism for overseeing Eurozone banks by the end of 2012.

EU and Armenia initiated the visa facilitation and readmission agreements.

19 October 2012

Prime Minister of the UK, David Cameron announced his plan for referendum on Britain’s EU membership.

23 October 2012

The European Commission announced its action plan for online gambling.

24 October 2012

Three new negotiating chapters (“Financial services”, “Statistics” and “Customs union”) were opened at the meeting of the EU-Iceland Accession Conference at deputy level.

25 October 2012

The 13^th Meeting of the Committee of Regions Working Group on Relations with Turkey was held in Brussels.

Social Democrat Party won the general election in Lithuania.

29 October 2012

EU and the Republic of Cape Verde signed the Visa Facilitation Agreement.

1 November 2012

The EU’s Regulation N^o 236/12 on Short Selling and certain aspects of credit default swaps came into force.

5 November 2012

Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte visited Turkey (5-7 November).

The 9^th Asia-Europe Summit was held in Laos.

6 November 2012

Barack Obama won the presidential election in U.S.

The EU Court of Justice held a hearing in Demirkan case.

7 November 2012

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu visited Brussels.

The European Commission proposed Schengen visa-free travel to the citizens of 16 Caribbean and Pacific Island Nations.

11 November 2012

The 27^th Meeting of Reform Monitoring Group was held in Bursa.

13 November 2012

The Russian gas company Gazprom and the Slovenian company Plinovodi signed a resolution on the adoption of the Final Investment Decision on construction of the South Stream gas pipeline section in Slovenia.

14 November 2012

The demonstrations against the growing unemployment in the EU and the austerity measures were held within the scope of “European Day of Action and Solidarity”.

The European Commission proposed a new directive on improving the gender balance among the administrative boards of companies.

15 November 2012

The European Commission published a proposal assessing the objective of full completion of the Internal Energy Market by 2014.

16 November 2012

Turkey and Secretariat for European Affairs of Macedonia signed a memorandum of understanding.

20 November 2012

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bağış paid a business visit to Strasbourg.

21 November 2012

Former Foreign Minister of Malta, Tonio Borg was appointed as the new EU Health Commissioner by the European Parliament.

22 November 2012

The European Commission adopted 27,2 million Euros worth financial assistance program for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus with the aim to promote the economic integration of Cyprus,.

23 November 2012

The second meeting of Judiciary and Fundamental Rights Working Group, which has been established in the framework of “Positive Agenda” was held in Brussels.

2013 has been officially named "The European Year of Citizens".

26 November 2012

Eurozone Finance Ministers and the IMF reached an agreement on a 43.7 billion Euros worth bailout for Greece.

27 November 2012

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited Spain in order to attend the 4^th Turkey-Spain Intergovernmental Summit.

The Grand National Assembly of Turkey elected Mehmet Nihat Ömeroğlu, former High Court Member, as Turkey’s Chief Ombudsman.

The European Parliament, the Council of Ministers and the European Commission agreed on a code of conduct fundamental for credit-rating agencies.

28 November 2012

The European Commission presented a blueprint for “a deep and genuine Economic and Monetary Union”.

29 November 2012

The 28^th Meeting of the Customs Union Joint Committee was held in Brussels. (29-30 November)

30 November 2012

Moody’s downgraded the ratings of the European Stability Mechanism and the European Financial Stability Facility.

1 December 2012

Turkey became part to the Convention on common transit procedure with the European Free Trade Association countries and EU Member States.

The EU Agency was established in Tallinn for the operational management of large-scale Information Technologies systems in the area of Home Affairs.

2 December 2012

Former Prime Minister Borut Pahor won the presidential election in Slovenia.

4 December 2012

Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy, Štefan Füle called France for abolishing its veto on five chapters of Turkey’s accession negotiations.

The Regulation N^o 1024/2012 on Internal Market Information System-IMI entered into force.

5 December 2012

Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin paid an official visit to Brussels (5-6 December).

President of the Council of Ministers, Herman Van Rompuy, presented a roadmap entitled “Towards a Genuine Economic and Monetary Union”.

6 December 2012

The European Commission presented a comprehensive action plan on tax fraud and evasion.

The Social Liberal Union, under the leadership of Prime Minister Victor Ponta, won the general election in Romania.

10 December 2012

The Nobel Peace Prize was officially handed over to the EU at the formal ceremony held in Oslo, Norway.

EU agreed on a single patent system, public procurement package and the framework of “Horizon 2020” at the meeting of Competitiveness Council (10-11December).

11 December 2012

The European Parliament adopted the EU patent package, which consists of single patent, language regime and the Unified Patent Court.

12 December 2012

At the meeting of Economic and Financial Affairs Council, the EU agreed on the legislative package that establishes Single Supervisory Mechanism.

The European Parliament adopted a decision authorizing eleven Member States to introduce a common Financial Transaction Tax through an “enhanced cooperation”.

13 December 2012

The European Court of Human Rights sentenced Turkey to pay a fine in the amount of 12,000 Euros in respect of the violation of the prohibition on inhuman treatment and of the rights to freedom of religion or belief and to fair trial to Turkish conscientious objector Halil Savda.

17 December 2012

The European Commission recommended that the Schengen handbook should be amended to reflect the judgment that Turkish nationals should be able to enter to the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark without a short stay Schengen visa in order to provide services there.

18 December 2012

The Accession Conference with Iceland at Ministerial level was held to open the negotiations on “Free Movement of Goods”, “Taxation”, “Economic and Monetary Policy”, “Regional Policy”, “Coordination of Structural Instruments”, “Environment” and “External Relations” and to provisionally close the negotiations on “Competition Policy”.

The Accession Conference with Montenegro at Ministerial level was held to open and provisionally close the negotiating chapter, “Science and Research”.

19 December 2012

The European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights Delegation, under the leadership of German Legislator Barbara Lochbihler, visited Ankara, Kilis and Gaziantep.

“Reporters without Borders” published a report on the imprisoned journalists in Turkey.

The European Commission adopted the proposal which revises the Tobacco Products Directive.

20 December 2012

The 31^st Meeting of the EU-Turkey Joint Consultative Committee was held in Ankara (20-21 December).

The 30^th EU-Russia Summit was held in Brussels.

At the meeting of EU Transport Council, EU and the European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation (Eurocontrol) signed an agreement on the enhanced cooperation.

21 December 2012

EU adopted new rules concerning the implementation of unisex pricing in the insurance industry.

24 December 2012

The EU provided 25 million Euros to assist Turkey with the Syrian refugees.

31 December 2012

In coordination with the Ministry for EU Affairs, Turkey prepared for the first time its own “Progress Report” consisting of the reforms in Turkey which were implemented during the year 2012.