Ankara (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan mentioned that he thought there could be “new progress” in Ankara’s efforts to join the European Union, referencing recent statements from Germany’s chancellor.
During a live broadcast on A News, he praised German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s remarks supporting Turkey’s EU membership. He described them as
“an important renewal of political will.”
“I believe there will be new progress with the European Union in this period,”
he stated,
adding,
“For the German chancellor to state publicly in Ankara that Germany wants Turkey in the EU is a significant renewal of political will. The fact that this comes from Germany is important, and we value it.”
What reforms does Berlin expect from Turkey before accession?
Last month, Friedrich Merz called Turkey a key ally for the European Union.
“I personally, and the German government, see Turkey as a close partner of the European Union. We want to continue smoothing the way to Europe,”
Merz expressed at a joint news conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.
Merz stated that Berlin supports Turkey’s EU bid but highlighted the importance of democratic reforms and judicial independence. He mentioned worries about recent decisions that do not meet EU standards.
“There have been decisions in Turkey that do not yet fully meet the standards of the Copenhagen criteria,”
Merz said.
Answering a query about Turkey’s accession process, Fidan said both Ankara and the EU were working under new situations and attitudes. He highlighted that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s stance after his reelection in May 2023 has been a major influence.
“After the election, the president clearly told me he wanted maximum effort on this issue,”
Fidan said, adding that this represented a direct instruction on EU policy.
How are new EU defence priorities influencing Turkey’s strategy?
The Turkish Foreign Minister also talked about recent changes in EU security and defence priorities. He mentioned that the EU wants to reshape its security setup and is focusing on improving the bloc’s defence industry.
He stated that the EU plans to create a joint €150 billion low-interest fund to help member states boost their defence capabilities. The bloc has also raised its borrowing limit under financial rules and set up an extra €800 billion fund, referring to it as a way of borrowing from the future to address present needs.
What role will Turkey’s growing businesses play in EU ties?
Turkish businesses are increasing their presence in the EU by forming new firms and partnerships. This would help Türkiye make better use of these funds, he said.
He mentioned that Ankara aims to build cooperation based on prosperity. This includes not just the EU but also partners to the east, north, and across the Mediterranean. Fidan noted that the EU has successfully become a supranational entity, but
“could not become a civilization-transcending entity.”
Pointing out Turkey’s progress, he stated that the country has completed significant investments in infrastructure, energy, defence, health, communication, and education, mainly without major EU funds.
“Turkey now has infrastructure far above the standards of many European countries, and its population is approaching 90 million,”
he said.
Why does Fidan criticise the EU’s handling of Cyprus issues?
He criticised the European Union for trying to bring the Greek Cypriot issue into its framework. He said the bloc’s decision-making rules have been misused, leading to repeated internal deadlocks.
He noted that the EU is attempting to shift from unanimity to qualified majority voting. This change is needed because it struggles to make decisions on several key issues, including those related to Türkiye.
When did Turkey apply for EU membership?
According to reports, Turkey’s goal of joining the European Union has faced many challenges since its application was first submitted in 1987. Since Turkey submitted its official request on April 14, 1987, to join what was then the European Economic Community (EEC), 16 other countries have had their bids approved, highlighting Turkey’s exclusion.
After a series of challenges, promises, and threats, it is clear that Turkey’s journey toward membership is a special case that Brussels has not fully figured out how to handle.
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