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EU Parliament Committee: Turkey cannot rejoin accession talks under current conditions
๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ท Greece /Elections & Politics

EU Parliament Committee: Turkey cannot rejoin accession talks under current conditions

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs expressed strong concern over Turkey's internal situation, stating the country cannot rejoin the EU accession process under current conditions.
  • Rapporteur Nacho Sรกnchez Amor highlighted a decade-long lack of willingness from Turkey to comply with European principles, calling the country

The European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs has sent a stern message to Ankara, declaring that "Turkey cannot return to the accession path under the current conditions." The committee voiced significant concern regarding the country's internal situation ahead of a vote on its report.

Turkey cannot return to the accession path under the current conditions.

โ€” European Parliament Committee on Foreign AffairsStating the EU's position on Turkey's accession process.

Nacho Sรกnchez Amor, the rapporteur from Spain, emphasized that the accession process cannot advance without substantial reforms. "Turkey's accession process to the EU cannot be restarted under current conditions," he stated in the European Parliament. He noted that for ten years, "we have been waiting for good news" from Turkey, but instead, there is a "complete lack of will" to adhere to European principles.

Sรกnchez Amor described Turkey as "truly an authoritarian country" and questioned its place in the EU. He acknowledged, however, that a significant portion of Turkish citizens desire democracy over authoritarianism. He stressed that while they do not want to extinguish hope, the rule of law and human rights are non-negotiable prerequisites for the EU. The accession talks, he affirmed, are "rightly frozen" and cannot resume without improvements in Turkey's internal situation.

The accession process of Turkey to the EU cannot be restarted under the current conditions.

โ€” Nacho Sรกnchez AmorExplaining the lack of progress in EU-Turkey relations.

The rapporteur also addressed the detentions and imprisonments in Turkey, including that of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem ฤฐmamoฤŸlu. He pointed out that the prosecution of activists and political opponents hinders any meaningful progress. Regarding relations with Greece and Cyprus, Sรกnchez Amor stated the necessity of building a functional framework for coexistence, with Greece and Cyprus as critical pillars. He highlighted that security and defense issues remain central, but significant trust deficits and deviations from good neighborly principles persist and require substantial attention.

we have been waiting for good news from Turkey, however, there is a complete lack of will to comply with European principles.

โ€” Nacho Sรกnchez AmorDescribing the decade-long stagnation in accession talks.

EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, Olivรฉr Vรกrhelyi, echoed these concerns, stating that the report reflects serious worries about developments in Turkey. He acknowledged Turkey as a "key partner, NATO ally, and candidate country," but lamented the lack of progress on fundamental issues. Vรกrhelyi underscored that despite the strategic goal of accession, "there has been no tangible progress on the rule of law and fundamental freedoms," with a noticeable regression instead.

Turkey is now a truly authoritarian country.

โ€” Nacho Sรกnchez AmorCharacterizing the current political climate in Turkey.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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