After years of frozen negotiations, Ankara is sending a sharper message to Brussels. The shift comes despite recent calls to revive long-suspended dialogue.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that the country’s accession to the European Union is no longer among Ankara’s top priorities. In an interview with Al Jazeera, he explained this position by Brussels’ lack of readiness to admit Turkey to the EU.
EU membership is no longer a priority for Turkey
– Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in an interview with Al Jazeera
Erdoğan believes that delaying a decision on Turkey’s application will have more negative consequences for Europe than for Ankara.
Europe is the one that will lose out
– Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in an interview with Al Jazeera
Turkey-EU negotiations
Turkey was granted candidate status for membership in the European Union in 1999. Official accession talks began in 2005, but the process effectively stalled in 2016 amid political disagreements.
European lawmakers have repeatedly raised concerns about the Turkish authorities. The criticism concerned a departure from democratic standards, the state of media freedom, and respect for human rights.
Ankara’s position on European integration
At the same time, in July 2026, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, during a meeting with European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, emphasized Turkey’s expectations regarding the resumption of dialogue on European integration.
At the time, Ankara hoped to reinvigorate cooperation mechanisms with the EU and resume negotiation meetings. Erdoğan’s current statement indicates that Turkey sees further progress in this direction as dependent primarily on concrete steps by Brussels.