Regionalism can be used as a stepping stone towards more global or multilateral relations. The world has changed and it would seem that globalization is the new reality. The great expansion of foreign direct investment is an indispensable agent for globalization. The EU, NAFTA, ASEAN and many other associations try to create environments in which globalization becomes possible. The base from which to operate has to be well integrated but the problem is that there are mechanisms in regionalism that work in both directions, closing it up like a fortress or opening it to globalization. Turkey has been linked to the EU since 1963. After a difficult start in 1980, it launched a major process of liberalization and changed its economy to one of export orientation. But Turkish entrepreneurs were expecting more from the customs union with the EU (agreed in 1995): after an initial period of positive growth the situation has since stabilized.