This article deals with cooperation between the European Union and non-member states. For the use of the term to describe Franco-German cooperation at and since the Treaty of Maastricht, see France–Germany relations Privileged partnership is a generic term for cooperation between the European Union and a non-EU country to advance common goals without using EU membership. History The term is usually used to describe an alternative to EU membership for Turkey that was first floated in November 2002 by Heinrich August Winkler in Die Zeit and later formally proposed in 2004, although the term was used previously in 2003 to describe a proposed relationship with Russia and was also used in 2004 for a proposed relationship with Israel. Since that time, the term has been used for alternatives for EU membership for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro and Kosovo, has since been used retrospectively to characterise relationships with the countries considered in 2004 for the European Neighbourhood Policy that were first proposed in the Commission Communication of March 2003, and is also used for the EU's bilateral relationship with Tunisia and with Russia. Ultimately the term dates back to 1957 when it was used to characterise Morocco's relationship with the European Economic Community. By country Albania The term was used for a proposed alternative to EU membership for Albania. Algeria The term has been used for the proposed relationship with the countries considered in 2004 for the European Neighbourhood Policy, including Algeria. Armenia The term has been used for the proposed relationship with the countries considered in 2004 for the European Neighbourhood Policy, including Armenia. Azerbaijan The term has been used for the proposed relationship with the countries considered in 2004 for the European Neighbourhood Policy, including Azerbaijan. Belarus The term has been used for the proposed relationship with the countries considered in 2004 for the European Neighbourhood Policy, including Belarus. Bosnia and Herzegovina The term was used for a proposed alternative to EU membership for Bosnia and Herzegovina. 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. Egypt The term has been used for the proposed relationship with the countries considered in 2004 for the European Neighbourhood Policy, including Egypt. North Macedonia The term was used for a proposed alternative to EU membership for