Turkey pushes for a resumption of accession negotiations, Brussels demands progress

2 mins

With our office in Brussels,

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan asks the European Union to speed up its internal negotiations to end the Turkey’s EU accession process quicksand in which he is bogged down. For him, Europeans must dare to move forward and not allow themselves to be taken hostage by the interests of some. This is a clear allusion to Cyprus, which demands a resolution of the status of the island before the Turkish candidacy can progress. ” We expect the EU to show the necessary will to improve our relations and to act with more courage “said the head of Turkish diplomacy.

Hakan Fidan evokes the end of visas for short stays in Europe as well as a relaunch of customs union projects which have been pending for seven years. It is probably on these issues that the Europeans could satisfy Turkey.

Progress demanded on democracy and the rule of law

Turkey applied for membership in the European Economic Community in 1987 and in the European Union in 1999. But the negotiations, which began in 2005, have been officially frozen for five years. Relations had been very strained since the failed putsch attempt in July 2016 in Turkey and the massive purges against opponents and journalists that followed.

The European Parliament does not want a resumption of negotiations as they stand and the Commissioner for Enlargement is asking for efforts. According to Oliver Varhelyi, Turkey must fulfill ” criteria related to democracy and the rule of law “. The statement is vague enough not to provoke Turkey’s ire, but it does reflect the European view that the country has moved away from basic EU values. ” We discussed areas where we can move forward “, added the commissioner, considering that the partnership between Ankara and the Europeans had a” huge potential “.

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