EU accuses Turkey of ‘backsliding’ on reforms to join bloc
3 years, 5 months ago

EU accuses Turkey of ‘backsliding’ on reforms to join bloc

Al Jazeera  

The European Union’s executive body has said that Turkey’s bid to join the bloc had “come to a standstill” amid serious democratic shortfalls in its annual report, which was slammed by the Turkish foreign ministry as making “baseless claims”. Turkey’s foreign ministry said the report showed a “double-standard approach” by the EU and rejected the “unfair criticisms and baseless claims”. “It would be in everyone’s interest if the EU, taking into account our common general interests, sees Turkey as a candidate country that is negotiating, not as a partner with whom to have daily give-take relations.” A NATO ally, Turkey has been negotiating its EU membership since 2005 after economic and political reforms that made it an important emerging market economy and trade partner. In its 2021 report, the Commission questioned Turkey’s “ability to assume the obligations of membership” and said Ankara pursued reforms in areas from the economy to rule of law “on a rather ad hoc basis”.

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History of this topic

EU Stalemate Fuels Turkish Ambition to Join BRICS, Minister Says
1 month, 1 week ago

EU Stalemate Fuels Turkish Ambition to Join BRICS, Minister Says

Live Mint  

-- Turkey is still seeking to join BRICS nations as part of efforts to strengthen its economy, after decades of unsuccessful attempts to gain membership of the European Union, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is “keen to increase Turkey’s economic options” and the EU was “our first choice,” Fidan told Bloomberg TV in an interview on …

Ankara slams EU report on Turkey’s membership bid as unjust and biased
1 year, 4 months ago

Ankara slams EU report on Turkey’s membership bid as unjust and biased

Al Jazeera  

The report on Turkey’s progress towards meeting standards for EU membership says Ankara is ‘backsliding’. The report, published on Wednesday by the EU’s executive arm, accused Ankara of “serious backsliding” on democratic standards, the rule of law, human rights and judicial independence. The Turkish ministry said the allegations were unfair and highlighted “the insincerity of EU’s approach and a clear …

Analysis: Is Turkey’s bid for EU membership over?
1 year, 6 months ago

Analysis: Is Turkey’s bid for EU membership over?

Al Jazeera  

Tensions between the sides flare again as Erdogan signals parting ways with the bloc after a rough European Parliament report. The EP resolution adopted a report published by the European Commission last year and said that Turkey’s EU accession process “cannot be resumed” without a “drastic change of course” by Ankara. “It would be hard to get the necessary support …

Erdogan says Turkey may part ways with the EU. He implied the country could end its membership bid
1 year, 6 months ago

Erdogan says Turkey may part ways with the EU. He implied the country could end its membership bid

Associated Press  

ISTANBUL — President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday that Turkey may part ways with the European Union, implying that the country is thinking about ending its bid to join the 27-nation bloc. “The EU is making efforts to sever ties with Turkey,” he told reporters before departing for the 78th U.N. General Assembly in New York. “We will evaluate the …

Turkey may part ways with EU if necessary: Erdogan
1 year, 6 months ago

Turkey may part ways with EU if necessary: Erdogan

Firstpost  

Turkish membership in the EU has been an official candidate for 24 years, but recent stagnation in the admission process is due to EU worries about abuses of human rights and respect for the rule of law When asked about the details of a European Parliament report on Turkey on Saturday, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan stated that Ankara may “part …

Turkey asks the EU to take bold steps to advance its membership bid, while the EU urges reforms
1 year, 6 months ago

Turkey asks the EU to take bold steps to advance its membership bid, while the EU urges reforms

Associated Press  

ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s top diplomat on Wednesday affirmed his country’s resolve to join the European Union and urged the 27-member bloc to take courageous steps to advance its bid. “The European Union cannot be a truly global actor without Turkey,” Fidan said. The negotiations, however, came to a standstill in 2018 over Turkey’s democratic backsliding and erosion of the …

Turkey’s pledge of support for Sweden’s NATO entry is tied to goals on security and EU membership
1 year, 8 months ago

Turkey’s pledge of support for Sweden’s NATO entry is tied to goals on security and EU membership

Associated Press  

ISTANBUL — Turkey made a surprise pledge to drop its opposition to Sweden joining NATO, paving the way for the Nordic country to become a member of the Western military alliance. Ustum described Turkey’s statements over the Quran-burnings as “a tool in the negotiations.” adding that “for Turkey it was mainly about terrorist organizations.” TURKEY WANTS F-16 FIGHTER JETS FROM …

Why Turkey changed its stance on Sweden’s NATO membership
1 year, 8 months ago

Why Turkey changed its stance on Sweden’s NATO membership

Al Jazeera  

Ankara supports Stockholm’s bid after it receives backing on key conditions that range from buying US F-16s to visa-free travel to Europe’s Schengen area. However, Turkey also sought a general normalisation and improvement in its relations with the EU countries and the US in general through Sweden’s process, using it as a peg,” Dalay told Al Jazeera. According to a …

If EU embraces Turkey, Ankara to back Sweden’s NATO bid: Erdogan
1 year, 8 months ago

If EU embraces Turkey, Ankara to back Sweden’s NATO bid: Erdogan

Al Jazeera  

Turkish president says EU should open the way for his country to join the bloc before Ankara approves Sweden’s NATO membership. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he would back Sweden’s NATO candidacy if the European Union resumes long-stalled membership talks with Ankara. “First, open the way for Turkey’s membership in the European Union, and then we will open it …

Turkey elections | Why Europe is watching closely
1 year, 10 months ago

Turkey elections | Why Europe is watching closely

The Hindu  

Turkey's elections on May 14 are a key moment not just for the country itself but also for its European neighbours. "It is important that the process itself is clean and free," said Sergey Lagodinsky, a German member of the European Parliament who co-chairs a group of EU and Turkish lawmakers. Peter Stano, a spokesman for the EU's diplomatic service, …

Erdogan: Nordic NATO bid could still be nixed if vows unkept
2 years, 9 months ago

Erdogan: Nordic NATO bid could still be nixed if vows unkept

Associated Press  

ISTANBUL — Just two days after agreeing to lift deal-breaking objections to Sweden and Finland’s NATO accession, Turkey’s leader warned Thursday that Ankara could still block the process if the two countries fail to fully meet his expectations. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the close of the alliance’s summit in Madrid that the 10-article agreement with the Nordic pair …

Turkey demands ‘concrete steps’ to back Nordics’ NATO bids
2 years, 10 months ago

Turkey demands ‘concrete steps’ to back Nordics’ NATO bids

Associated Press  

ANKARA, Turkey — A senior Turkish official insisted after talks with Swedish and Finnish officials Wednesday that Turkey would not agree to the two Nordic countries joining NATO unless specific steps are taken to address Ankara’s objections. The Turkish government also accuses Finland and Sweden of imposing arms exports restrictions on Turkey and refusing to extradite suspected “terrorists.” Turkey’s objections …

EU chiefs raise ‘deep worries’ over rights in Turkey with Erdogan
3 years, 11 months ago

EU chiefs raise ‘deep worries’ over rights in Turkey with Erdogan

Al Jazeera  

EU says it wants better ties with Ankara as top officials meet with Turkey’s president, but human rights the ‘priority’. The European Union’s top two officials expressed “deep worries” about human rights in Turkey while voicing hope for stronger ties during their first meeting in a year with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, meanwhile, …

EU, Turkey to work on improving relations after tumultuous 2020
4 years, 2 months ago

EU, Turkey to work on improving relations after tumultuous 2020

Al Jazeera  

The European Union and Turkey have pressed each other to take concrete steps in order to improve relations long strained by disagreements over a number of issues including energy and migration. Turkey, which remains an official candidate for EU membership despite the tensions, is facing the threat of economic sanctions by the bloc over a hydrocarbons dispute with Greece in …

Erdogan says Turkey sees itself a part of Europe
4 years, 4 months ago

Erdogan says Turkey sees itself a part of Europe

Live Mint  

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that his country, an official candidate for European Union membership, sees itself as an inseparable part of Europe but will not give in to attacks and double standards. "We see ourselves as an inseparable part of Europe.However this does not mean that we will bow down to overt attacks to our country and …

Turkey calls on EU to be ‘honest’ in dispute with members
4 years, 8 months ago

Turkey calls on EU to be ‘honest’ in dispute with members

Associated Press  

ANKARA, Turkey — The Turkish foreign minister on Monday called on the European Union to be an “honest broker” in disputes between Ankara and EU member states France, Greece and Cyprus. “We want to work with the EU,” Cavusoglu said, but added: “If the EU takes additional decisions against Turkey, we will be forced to reciprocate. Borrell said Turkey was …

EU warns of curtailing rights under Turkey’s state of emergency
6 years, 11 months ago

EU warns of curtailing rights under Turkey’s state of emergency

Al Jazeera  

Senior Turkish official accuses bloc of ‘bias’ and ‘lacking empathy’ after report urges lifting of state of emergency. They use the terror threat in Turkey as a trump card for corrupting the country’s image, trying to show Turkey as a country without democracy.” Constitutional changes The report also said that during the state of emergency, the parliament’s “key function as …

EU cuts Turkey funding after ‘democratic deterioration’
7 years, 4 months ago

EU cuts Turkey funding after ‘democratic deterioration’

Al Jazeera  

The European Union will cut funds allocated to Turkey due to the “deteriorating situation in relation to democracy, rule of law and human rights” there, according to a European Parliament statement. {articleGUID} The latest was in July, when the EP called on the European Commission, the EU’s executive body, and member states to “suspend the accession negotiations with Turkey without …

Turkey-Europe tensions high as EU summit opens
7 years, 5 months ago

Turkey-Europe tensions high as EU summit opens

Al Jazeera  

EU meeting in Brussels comes amid deteriorating relations and calls to freeze Ankara’s EU membership bid. {articleGUID} In September, in a televised debate before Germany’s parliamentary elections, Merkel said that Turkey “should not become a member of the EU”. This is the reason why Merkel recently said that they will not make a decision on suspension of talks in this …

EU says doors open for membership talks with Turkey if Ankara gives clear signals
7 years, 11 months ago

EU says doors open for membership talks with Turkey if Ankara gives clear signals

Firstpost  

The European Union is keeping the door ajar for Turkey to become a member, but says Ankara must provide clearer signals on whether it intends to meet the entrance criteria in such areas as human rights and rule of law. Brussels: The European Union is keeping the door ajar for Turkey to become a member, but says Ankara must provide …

Germany urges EU nations not to break off Turkey accession talks
7 years, 11 months ago

Germany urges EU nations not to break off Turkey accession talks

Firstpost  

Germany, on Friday, urged fellow EU nations not to end membership talks with Turkey despite deep misgivings over its rights record because the country is key to European interests. Valletta: Germany, on Friday, urged fellow EU nations not to end membership talks with Turkey despite deep misgivings over its rights record because the country is key to European interests. It …

Turkey's relationship with EU has reached 'lowest point', says Turkish PM
7 years, 11 months ago

Turkey's relationship with EU has reached 'lowest point', says Turkish PM

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Turkey's relations with the European …

Netherlands joins EU in refusal to congratulate Erdogan
7 years, 11 months ago

Netherlands joins EU in refusal to congratulate Erdogan

NL Times  

Not a single country in the European Union, including the Netherlands, congratulated Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his projected win in a referendum in Turkey on Sunday. The projected results show that 51.4 percent of Turks voted 'yes' on a referendum that gives Erdogan more power, including the possibility of ruling Turkey until 2029. "The tight result shows that …

EU calls on Turkey to hold back in political spat with Netherlands
8 years ago

EU calls on Turkey to hold back in political spat with Netherlands

NL Times  

The European Commission called on Turkey to refrain from making harsh statements that could worsen the country's relationship with the Netherlands and other European members. "The comparison by the Turkish President with Nazi practices is unacceptable", Vice President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans said, according to NOS. This happened after the Dutch government refused entry to the country to …

The Turkey-EU fallout
8 years, 3 months ago

The Turkey-EU fallout

Al Jazeera  

Can relations between the EU and Turkey be mended? The EU is saying that Turkey’s lack of reform, democratic backsliding and post-coup crackdown stand in the way of continuing negotiations, whereas the Turkish government accuses the EU of lack of commitment to the accession process, going back on its pledge to liberalise visas for Turkish citizens, and issuing a tepid …

The Turkey-EU fallout
8 years, 3 months ago

The Turkey-EU fallout

Al Jazeera  

Can relations between the EU and Turkey be mended? The EU is saying that Turkey’s lack of reform, democratic backsliding and post-coup crackdown stand in the way of continuing negotiations, whereas the Turkish government accuses the EU of lack of commitment to the accession process, going back on its pledge to liberalise visas for Turkish citizens, and issuing a tepid …

European Parliament votes to block Turkey's attempts to join EU
8 years, 4 months ago

European Parliament votes to block Turkey's attempts to join EU

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The European Parliament has voted …

EU presses Turkey on human rights and other issues; President Erdogan demands membership decision
8 years, 4 months ago

EU presses Turkey on human rights and other issues; President Erdogan demands membership decision

LA Times  

The European Union on Wednesday criticized Turkey for democratic “backsliding” after an attempted coup and warned that its candidacy for membership in the bloc was in jeopardy if a crackdown on the judiciary, parliament and the media were not reversed. “They shamelessly say that Turkey’s EU negotiations should be reviewed,” Erdogan said. Make your decision.” The sharp exchange came amid …

EU opens new chapter in Turkey membership talks
8 years, 9 months ago

EU opens new chapter in Turkey membership talks

Firstpost  

The European Union announced Thursday it had opened a new negotiating chapter with Turkey on its long-stalled bid for membership of the bloc, as part of its migrant deal with Ankara. Brussels: The European Union announced on Thursday it had opened a new negotiating chapter with Turkey on its long-stalled bid for membership of the bloc, as part of its …

EU and Turkey reach migrant deal – but delay final decision until next summit
9 years ago

EU and Turkey reach migrant deal – but delay final decision until next summit

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The leaders faced new demands from Turkey for an …

The EU-Turkey refugee deal and the Kurdish issue
9 years ago

The EU-Turkey refugee deal and the Kurdish issue

Al Jazeera  

Many believe that the EU is turning a blind eye to human rights violations in Turkey. Giving the still-high-number of refugees stemming from Turkey to Europe despite the winter conditions, and the demand by the EU leaders for a sharp drop in refugee flows ahead of the EU-Turkey Summit on March 7, it seems that the union’s stance on many …

Critical EU decision on Turkey
11 years, 9 months ago

Critical EU decision on Turkey

NL Times  

Today, June 24, the European Union will discuss issues on Turkey after the setbacks. Turkey Eric Borda/flickr The EU will discuss about Chapter 22, regional policies after the three-year postponements. Germany decided to halt the chapter’s opening for domestic political reasons, bringing a gap within the EU countries. EU sources say the foreign ministers of the 27-nation union will also …

Turkey's new aspiration
20 years, 5 months ago

Turkey's new aspiration

The Hindu  

Turkey reforms a 78-year-old penal code and shelves a controversial move to reimpose a ban on adultery in a bid to enter the European Union. 's ultimatum to choose "either adultery or Europe" as the Turkish daily Cumhurriet described it, Turkey's leadership backed down. "No item which is not already included in the draft of the Turkish criminal code will …

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