<P> Turkey 's application to accede to the European Economic Community , the predecessor of the European Union ( EU ) , was made on 14 April 1987 . After the ten founding members , Turkey was one of the first countries to become a member of the Council of Europe in 1949 . The country has also been an associate member of the Western European Union from 1992 to its end in 2011 . Turkey signed a Customs Union agreement with the EU in 1995 and was officially recognised as a candidate for full membership on 12 December 1999 , at the Helsinki summit of the European Council . </P>
<P> Turkey 's application to accede to the European Economic Community , the predecessor of the European Union ( EU ) , was made on 14 April 1987 . After the ten founding members , Turkey was one of the first countries to become a member of the Council of Europe in 1949 . The country has also been an associate member of the Western European Union from 1992 to its end in 2011 . Turkey signed a Customs Union agreement with the EU in 1995 and was officially recognised as a candidate for full membership on 12 December 1999 , at the Helsinki summit of the European Council . </P>
when did turkey became part of european union
when did turkey became part of european union
1949 .
1949 .