This chapter addresses the special arrangements made to regulate migration from specific third countries in the period before the Single European Act. First, it will be shown how social and economic objectives, paired with favourable economic circumstances, laid the foundation for the extensive protection of Turkish workers under the EEC–Turkey Association Agreement. Following this, the analysis shows how economic cooperation with specific countries that were crucial for supplying migrant labour led to the attribution of rights to third-country nationals despite their exclusion from primary and secondary law. Finally, the chapter discusses enlargement processes and investigates how accession treaties concluded during this period were framed in light of ensuring the promotion of economic objectives, while limiting migration rights for nationals of acceding states. The analysis reveals the constant attempts by EU institutions to ensure that migration policy is aligned with the objectives of growth and progress, and thereby with the economic and social pillars of sustainability.