Turkey Criticizes EU Report: Legitimate Concerns and Policies of Turkey and TRNC Ignored

In a written statement regarding the conclusions of the EU General Affairs Council on the enlargement process, the Ministry acknowledged the emphasis on Turkey’s candidate status and pivotal role as a positive and realistic approach.

Highlights from Turkey’s Statement:

The statement welcomed the resumption of High-Level Economic Dialogue meetings and the European Investment Bank's decision to re-engage with Turkey. It also noted the acknowledgment of Turkey's progress in macroeconomic policies and steps taken to address trade issues stemming from the Customs Union.

The Ministry described the recognition of efforts to reduce tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean and Turkey’s initiatives in the context of the Russia-Ukraine War as a "fair approach." However, it rejected the EU's assessments of Turkey’s domestic political dynamics, calling them biased and one-sided.

Criticism of Greek Cypriot and Greek Positions

The Ministry criticized the report for reiterating "unrealistic, illegal, and maximalist" views of Greece and the Greek Cypriot Administration, stating:

“Turkey’s and the TRNC’s legitimate concerns and rightful policies have been disregarded. The EU’s continued role as a spokesperson for the Greek Cypriot side and its neglect of the inherent rights of the Turkish Cypriot people remain the greatest obstacles to a resolution on the island.”

Call for a New Vision in EU-Turkey Relations

The Ministry reiterated Turkey’s strategic objective of EU membership, urging the EU to adopt a new vision to strengthen Turkey’s accession perspective. It called for the lifting of the EU Council's restrictive decision of July 15, 2019, and emphasized the importance of convening high-level dialogue meetings in political, energy, and transportation areas, as well as holding the Partnership Council by 2025.

The statement concluded with Turkey’s expectation of enhanced dialogue and cooperation in all fields, including foreign policy and regional matters, as highlighted in the Council’s conclusions.