The objective of this paper is to analyse the role that European countries’ institutional relations and economic policies have in improving the competitiveness, sustainable development and structural adjustments of farms and agro-food economy in Turkey by supporting sustainable and long-lasting foreign agricultural commercial relations. In particular, the paper analyses the case study of Turkey and Emilia-Romagna region agro-food economic trade and the institutional relations developed within a political and institutional framework of actions over the last decade showing how these initiatives have contributed to enhance the role of Turkey as an increasingly important trade partner country. The paper concludes that future CAP budget constraints should lead to a forward looking European enlargement policy towards candidate countries with agriculture oriented economies aiming at supporting agro-food economic relations and eventually a diminishing role of direct CAP support.