The Ankara Agreement, establishing an association between Turkey and the EC, envisions the customs union as a step towards a fuller integration. Nevertheless, Turkey did not appear on the list of candidate countries whose accession is being considered in the forthcoming accession negotiations. The Article explains the rea- sons as to why a customs union was achieved and the ways it is implemented as well as the contents and the institutional aspects of this unique relationship. The au- thor believes that the customs union is not a permanent stage and disintegration may occur unless the two sides proceed to further integration.