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

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 and later formally proposed in 2004,"WHAT IS PRIVILEGED PARTNERSHIP FOR?", Diplomatic Observer, 16 July 2009, see "Preserving Europe : Offer Turkey a privileged partnership instead" By Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, Wednesday, 15 December 2004, see here 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, North Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, and Kosovo. It has since been used retrospectively to characterize relationships with the countries"COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION, European Neighbourhood Policy STRATEGY PAPER, Brussels, 12.5.2004 COM(2004) 373 final see here 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"EU-Tunisia: privileged partnership in November, Barroso says: Fule and Bettaieb sign financial aid plans for health, justice" 02 OCTOBER, 19:13, ANSAMed, see here"Tunisia to become Privileged Partner to European Union", Hend Hassassi, 29 October 2012, see here "Tunisia’s Privileged Partnership With the European Union", Nadya B’Chir. Translated from Business News (Tunisia), November 2012 see here and with Russia.

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

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 North Macedonia.

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

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. It was also used for the proposed relationship with the countries considered in 2004 for the European Neighbourhood Policy, including Israel.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

Turkey Privileged partnership () was the term used by Angela Merkel in February 2004 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.

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

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."Britain could leave EU, says Jacques Delors", 28/12/2012, from France 24, see here

See also Eastern Partnership Enlargement of the European Union European integration European Union Association Agreement Potential enlargement of the European Union

References