EU accuses Turkey of ‘backsliding’ on reforms to join bloc
3 years, 2 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

Ankara slams EU report on Turkey’s membership bid as unjust and biased
1 year, 2 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, 3 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, 3 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, 3 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, 4 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, 5 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, 6 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, 6 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, 7 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, 6 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, 7 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, 9 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, …

Erdogan says Turkey sees itself a part of Europe
4 years, 1 month 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, 6 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 …

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