European court to decide on status of Turkish truck drivers

The Court of Justice of the European Communities is expected to rule on Wednesday on a case filed by Turkish business representatives demanding the removal of European restrictions on Turkish truck drivers. Turkish businesspeople and workers were granted certain privileges under an agreement signed between Turkey and the European Union in 1980 as part of an association agreement between the two dating back to the 1960s. Under the agreement, Turkish entrepreneurs and workers providing services in Europe, as well as international truck drivers working for companies that operate in Europe but receive service support from Turkey, were granted the right to free movement in Europe. But these rights have gradually been curtailed as European countries passed legislation narrowing the scope of freedoms for immigrants in the following... [read full story]