The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared that “full integration into the European Union is our strategic objective. It is obvious that it is for our mutual interest for the bloc to approach Turkey with a similar perspective».
“Ankara seeks to strengthen its friendship with the West”
Despite “obstacles” such as the Cyprus issue and different approaches to the war on terror, Erdogan’s recent statements have confirmed that Ankara seeks to strengthen its friendship with the West, rejecting criticism that changed in foreign policy.
According to Dailysabah, some say that Turkey is increasingly distancing itself from the West and moving towards alternative alliances, such as partnerships with Russia, China or different regions such as Latin America and the Gulf.
However, Turkey has repeatedly rejected these claims, saying the country seeks a balance between the East, the West and other alternative formations. following in recent years a foreign policy based on realism and pragmatism.
Erdogan’s statements were made during a press conference with his Estonian counterpart, Alar Karisin the capital Ankara on Thursday.
Karis also stated that His country supports Turkey’s accession to the EU and stressed the importance of “strategic dialogue”.
He confirmed his country’s firm support for Turkey’s application for EU membership, stressing the importance of continued dialogue between Ankara and Brussels.
Furthermore, he praised Turkey as a key strategic partner for the security of the EU’s neighborhood.
Turkey’s relationship with the European bloc began in 1959 with its signing Ankara Agreement, with the aim of gradual economic cooperation between Turkey and the European Economic Community (EEC), the precursor of the EU.
This marked the beginning of a long-term vision of convergence and potential future integration of the country.
Türkiye’s Ambitions, 1999
In 1999, Turkey’s ambitions took a step forward when it was granted official status as a candidate country for full EU membership.
This decision was accepted, but with caution, in the EU.
Formal accession negotiations began in 2005, during the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government under Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
These negotiations included a comprehensive assessment of Turkey’s alignment with the EU acquis, a vast set of laws, regulations and policies that form the bloc’s foundations.
The process involved the opening and temporary closing of individual chapters, each representing a specific policy area, after specified criteria were met.
However, the path to integration proved to be difficult.
Progress in negotiations has been slow. The EU expressed displeasure at the lack of progress on key issues, while Turkey criticized what it saw as double standards and a lack of commitment on the part of the EU.
This resulted in the de facto suspension of the accession process, leaving the future of Turkey’s EU membership up to state of uncertainty.
Despite the delay in negotiations, the relationship between the bloc and Turkey remains multifaceted.
The two sides continue to cooperate on a number of issues of mutual interest. This ongoing engagement, although not directly linked to the accession process, demonstrates the different nature of their relationship.
Since summer 2023, Ankara and the bloc have been working to revive ties.
Following the conclusion of presidential and parliamentary elections in May 2023, Brussels changed its rhetoric from “the importance of cooperation with Turkey” to “the continuation of relations on a strategic and forward-looking basis”.
The bloc emphasizes its strategic interest in developing relations with Turkey based on cooperation and mutual benefit.
Erdogan’s reaffirmation of Turkey’s commitment to EU membership, combined with the supportive stance of EU Member States such as Estonia, highlights the potential for a new phase in EU-Turkey relations.