ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has leveled accusations at the European Union (EU), alleging that the bloc is moving away from Turkey, whose aspirations to join the EU have encountered hurdles primarily related to concerns about democracy and the rule of law.
Erdogan’s statement comes on the heels of a recent visit by the EU’s enlargement commissioner, Oliver Varhelyi, to Turkey. During his visit, Varhelyi emphasized the “huge potential” of Turkey’s EU membership but made it clear that the EU sought concrete actions on human rights issues as a prerequisite for resuming membership talks.
The roots of this ongoing dispute date back to 2005, when Turkey initiated discussions to join the EU. However, progress has been sluggish, with persistent criticism aimed at Turkey’s efforts to address democracy and rule of law concerns, particularly in the wake of the government’s extensive crackdown following a failed coup attempt in July 2016.
In an effort to jumpstart negotiations, Erdogan secured a pledge from Brussels to revive the membership talks. This agreement was reached in exchange for Turkey lifting its blockade on Sweden’s bid to join the NATO military alliance, a move catalyzed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Erdogan Voices Turkey’s Frustration
Addressing reporters at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport before departing for the UN General Assembly in New York, Erdogan voiced his frustration, saying, “The European Union is trying to distance itself from us. We will carry out our own valuation of the situation and we also could take another direction.”
During his visit to Turkey, Commissioner Varhelyi underscored the EU’s expectations, stating, “There are very clear criteria set out also by the European Council that would need to be addressed. And these criteria are related to the rule of law and democracy, for example, a reliable roadmap for moving forward in these reforms.”
Erdogan’s comments reflect his administration’s ongoing commitment to mend strained relations with Western allies, following his re-election in May. Years of tension ensued after the Turkish government’s sweeping post-coup crackdown, leading to allegations of human rights abuses.
