ISTANBUL: The European Union’s (EU) enlargement commissioner has issued a clear message to Turkey, stating that progress on democracy and the rule of law should be prioritized if the country wishes to advance its aspirations of joining the EU. This declaration comes as part of efforts to reinvigorate stalled membership negotiations, with Ankara gaining concessions from Brussels in exchange for its support in unblocking Sweden’s bid to join the NATO military alliance.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, following his challenging election victory in May, has made reconciliation with Western allies a top priority on his agenda.
In this context, Oliver Varhelyi, the EU’s enlargement chief, arrived in Ankara to assess potential areas of common ground between the EU and Turkey. Varhelyi expressed his hope to develop “tangible and positive” outcomes for discussion at the European Council summit in December, emphasizing the significant potential of the EU-Turkey partnership.
However, Varhelyi acknowledged that the current negotiations have reached a “standstill”. He emphasized that there are clear criteria outlined by the European Council that must be addressed, including those related to democracy, the rule of law, and the establishment of a credible roadmap for reform in these areas.
Turkey’s pursuit of EU membership dates back to 1987 when it initially applied to join the European Economic Community, the predecessor to the modern-day European Union. The country was designated an EU candidate in 1999 and formally commenced membership negotiations in 2005. However, the negotiations faced significant setbacks due to concerns raised by European leaders regarding human rights violations, particularly in the aftermath of a sweeping crackdown following a failed military coup in 2016.
Turkey’s Grievances Over EU Membership Bid
Turkey has also voiced grievances, alleging that Brussels has not genuinely considered its membership, despite being a candidate for over two decades. President Erdogan has drawn attention to difficulties Turkish citizens face in obtaining European tourist visas and accused the EU of attempting to use Turkey as a “warehouse” for migrants.
Notably, Turkey played a crucial role in curbing Europe’s migrant crisis by agreeing to temporarily shelter millions of Syrians and others fleeing war zones in exchange for substantial financial assistance from the EU in 2016.
In response to these recent developments, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan criticized Brussels for imposing “political” barriers to the accession talks and urged the EU to exhibit the necessary determination to improve relations.
Although Turkey’s membership is not currently on the expansion agenda, there is mutual agreement between the EU and Turkey regarding the need to modernize the existing customs union established in 1996. Ankara seeks the removal of tariffs on a broader range of products to boost exports and trade.
President Erdogan emphasized this point during a significant economic policy address, stating, “We will intensify our efforts to update the Customs Union in order to add a new dimension to our trade with the European Union.”
