On Tuesday, Members of the European Parliament warned that beginning accession talks with Turkey would be impossible without clear and meaningful progress on EU-related reforms.

MEPs warned in a report voted on Tuesday by 448 votes in favor, 67 against, and 107 abstentions that, despite Turkey's repeated claims that it aspires to be an EU member, the country has persistently broken its pledges in relation to the accession process over the past two years.                                                                   

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The European Parliament applauds the recent small improvement in overall EU-Turkey ties, particularly the high-level conversations. Unfortunately, this increased cooperation has coexisted with regular disagreements, since ties with neighboring EU member states remain difficult and stressful for MEPs.

The research indicates that Turkey's human rights situation is deteriorating. MEPs are concerned about the ongoing legal and administrative pressures on civil society and human rights activists, lawyers, and journalists. They request that the Commission give adequate support for pro-democracy actions in Turkey.

Importance of close EU-Turkey cooperation in foreign and security policy

MEPs welcome Turkey's willingness to act as a mediator in Russia's war against Ukraine, emphasizing the critical necessity of effective EU-Turkey cooperation in foreign and security policy in these difficult times, and praise the country for its staunch support for NATO and the EU.

The report applauds Turkey's efforts to continue hosting the world's biggest refugee population and highlights the EU's ongoing allocation of financing for this purpose, which MEPs promise to continue in the future.

They also support the Commission's proposal to begin negotiations to update a mutually beneficial Customs Union, but caution that a final agreement would be supported only if the necessary democratic conditions on human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for international law, and good neighborly relations are met.

To summarize, MEPs argue Parliament cannot justify changing its position on the official suspension of membership talks with Turkey, which have been virtually stalled since 2018.

Turkish objections to Sweden and Finland’s NATO applications

MEPs urge Turkey to handle Finland and Sweden's NATO membership applications in good faith to participate constructively in attempts to resolve any unresolved difficulties and to refrain from applying excessive pressure throughout this process.

In light of the current critical situation, they emphasize the importance of all NATO partners acting with foresight and rapidly ratifying the two countries' accession treaties.

EU Parliament report on Turkey ‘biased, unrealistic’: Ankara

The European Parliament's 2021 country report on Turkey is prejudiced and unrealistic, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday, accusing the study of being unconstructive in improving ties between Ankara and Brussels.

The Foreign Ministry stated in a statement released after the parliamentary body's General Assembly accepted the report earlier in the day that Ankara does not accept the report because it ignores the need to enhance relations between Turkey and the European Union via reciprocal efforts.

Turkey principally expects the European Parliament not to become a tool for "narrow-minded circles," as well as to have a positive attitude toward EU institutions in order for the accession discussions to resume, it added.

However, it has so far taken the "opposite stance", the statement asserted, adding that this attitude is "not surprising" from the European Parliament, which tolerates members of terrorist groups making terrorist propaganda.

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