decision to consider Turkey's application was deferred until 1993, because the European Community was in the process of becoming the even (politically and economically) tighter European Union. The fall of the Soviet Union and German reunification delayed the decision on Turkish membership even more. During those years the European Community had also become reluctant to consider Turkey's application. At the Helsinki summit in December 1999 Turkey was given the status of a candidate country. At the end of 2004, the European Commission has issued a report with positive recommendations to the European Council, indicating the degree of compliance by Turkey of the Copenhagen political criteria. On this basis, the European Council decided to start accession negotiations with Turkey on 3 October 2005. Since then, no significant progress has been made towards membership nor is there evidence of political will to do so. Update proposals In December 2016, the European Commission released an assessment proposing to update and modernize the agreement which includes services and public procurement. The report concludes with two options; Enhanced Commercial Framework (ECF) or Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA). As of 2020 March, the Council didn't adapt the proposal yet. Since 2015, Turkish government has made several meetings to assess updating the agreement. Euro-Mediterranean free trade area Finally, Turkey is also member of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership and as such is interested in concluding free trade agreements with all other Mediterranean partners, with a view to the creation of a Euro-Mediterranean free trade area, originally aimed for by 2010. See also European Union Customs Union Ankara Agreement References External links Turkey border gridlock hints at pain to come for Brexit Britain The Financial Times, February 16, 2017 Turkey Foreign trade of Turkey Turkey–European Union relations Treaties of Turkey Customs unions Economic history of Turkey