Why Turkey-EU relations need a fundamental rethink

Why Turkey-EU relations need a fundamental rethink

The stalled accession process is no longer viable. A pragmatic pivot towards an interest-driven cooperation model is required

Driven by the new Trump administration to find solutions in terms of defence against the Russian threat, the European Union must also do so with Turkish influence. In recent weeks, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been campaigning again for his country's accession to the European Union... in exchange for military protection. As a reminder, if the United States is NATO's first army, Turkey is on second place on the podium.

ANALYSIS. By arming Ukraine with one hand and dealing with Russia with the other, without applying Western sanctions against Moscow, Ankara plays a millimetre balance.

Turkey became an EU candidate in 1999, and membership negotiations began in 2005. However, Europe has not accepted Turkey into its membership.

If it wants to rethink its defence strategy against the distance from the United States, Europe has no choice but to rely on Ankara, according to the Turkish press...

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel said, "The EU should not be a union that confines its relations with Turkey to immigration negotiations and sees Türkiye as a warehouse of immigrants beyond the border."