In an unexpected shift, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, announced on Saturday that Turkey might reconsider its pursuit to join the 27-nation European Union bloc. This implies the nation contemplates terminating its accession efforts.
Ahead of his departure to attend the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Erdogan addressed reporters, stating, “The European Union is attempting to sever ties with Turkey.”
He further elaborated, “We will assess the situation, and if necessary, we might part ways with the European Union.”
Erdogan’s remarks were in response to a recent report adopted by the European Parliament, suggesting that “the accession process cannot be resumed under the current circumstances.” The report further urged the EU to explore an “alternative and realistic framework” for relations between the bloc and Turkey.
To note, Turkey officially applied for EU membership in 1999, initiating accession talks in 2005. However, the negotiations were suspended in 2018 due to “democratic backsliding,” as per the European Parliament.
In contrast to Erdogan’s statements, just a week prior, Turkey’s Foreign Minister had affirmed the country’s commitment to EU membership, urging the bloc to take bold steps to propel the attempt forward.
It’s essential to highlight that relations between Ankara and the European Union have been strained since the attempted coup in July 2016 in Turkey.
Turkey-EU relations have always been multifaceted. Since Turkey’s official bid to join the EU, the journey has been fraught with both enthusiasm and hurdles. While both parties have experienced periods of cooperation, mutual interests, and understanding, several divergences, particularly concerning democratic norms, human rights, and geopolitical interests, have intermittently created tensions. The attempted coup in 2016 added a layer of complexity to these relations, further impacting the accession talks. Erdogan’s recent statements only underscore the volatile dynamics between Ankara and the European Union.
