EU Accession No Longer a Priority for Turkey, Says President Erdogan

European Union membership is no longer a priority for Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declared to Al-Jazeera. However, he left the door slightly ajar for eventual membership, asserting that the EU would be the one to suffer if it continues to reject Turkey.

Turkey has been a candidate for EU membership since 1999, with accession negotiations beginning in 2005. These talks have been stalled since 2018, primarily due to ongoing concerns about the deterioration of democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental rights within the country. The Turkish government has recently faced criticism for its crackdown on the opposition.

Following the 2024 municipal elections, where the main opposition party CHP emerged victorious nationwide, the government has increasingly targeted municipalities led by CHP mayors. Numerous mayors have been arrested on corruption charges. The arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu, the former mayor of Istanbul, in the spring of 2025 led to widespread protests. In late July, thousands gathered in Istanbul again after the arrest of the Üsküdar district mayor.

İmamoğlu, 55, is currently on trial with 414 co-defendants, 59 of whom are in pre-trial detention. The trial is taking place in the Silivri prison west of Istanbul, where he has been held since March 2025. He denies the charges of leading a criminal network. His trial continues.

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The EU would be the loser if it continues to refuse my country as a member.