Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.
Israeli media: 32% of Americans still support "Israel's" war on Hamas, while 60% oppose it.
Israeli media: Core US support for "Israel" hits its lowest, while support for Palestine reaches its highest levels.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reports martyrs, injuries in Israeli bombardment of home in Heker al-Jame area in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.
Al-Quds Governorate: Today, the spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque began in a public and dangerous manner, and we warn of a religious war in the region
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: This brings the total number of victims of famine and malnutrition to 175, including 93 children

EU faces dilemma between supporting and condemning Turkiye: Politico

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Politico
  • 27 Mar 2025 18:48
4 Min Read

Turkiye benefits from trade flows with the EU exceeding €200 billion annually, while its strategic position has become even more significant since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022.

Listen
  • x
  • EU faces dilemma between supporting and condemning Turkiye, PoliticoPeople shout slogans next to anti-riot police officers in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday, March 24, 2025, during a protest after Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested and sent to prison (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

Despite its warnings to Turkiye, the European Union will continue to send billions of euros to Ankara amid Erdogan's repression of political opponents.

Turkiye's status as an EU candidate requires it to "uphold democratic values" and Brussels will respond to any violations, two European officials told Politico on condition of anonymity about closed-door discussions.

One of the European officials stated that the EU is following the events unfolding in Turkiye "with great concern", emphasizing that "the latest developments go against the very logic of EU accession," as the country continues to lock the president's political opposition behind bars.

The other official, however, told Politico that Turkiye's importance to the bloc in migration, trade, energy, and defense means that any measures that would strain the relations between Brussels and Ankara would be unlikely.

Turkiye, now a crucial hub for oil and gas exports, benefits from trade flows with the EU exceeding €200 billion annually, while its strategic position has become even more significant since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022.

Ankara plays a key role in controlling access to the Black Sea and enforcing sanctions against Moscow, with recent discussions also positioning it as a major contributor to any potential peacekeeping mission in Ukraine.

Dimitar Bechev, a lecturer at the University of Oxford, stated that whatever the Turkish leader does, the EU will have no choice but to follow, adding that “the status quo before Imamoglu’s arrest was comfortable for the EU because there was just enough democracy." Bechev emphasized that the current situation is not "grave enough" for any tough measures.

Related News

Turkey, Egypt discuss Gaza aid, ceasefire talks: Reports

Report questions Turkey’s role in future European defense plans

Turkiye applied to join the EU in 1999, and despite negotiations stalling over the past decade, the country continues to receive billions in accession funds.

Additionally, Ankara has been granted around €9 billion in aid to host refugees from the Middle East, and it is set to receive significant financial support for European defense industries, highlighting the substantial sums of money Turkiye benefits from the EU.

As an EU candidate country, Turkiye has the potential to access joint procurements worth €800 billion from funds aimed at boosting the bloc's defense spending, though Greece and Cyprus, both involved in long-running conflicts with Turkiye, are advocating for restrictions.

Despite this, Ankara doubts the EU will support the two countries' objections, as its defense capabilities remain essential to Europe, with former Turkish ambassador to the EU, Selim Yenel, stating that if Europeans “want Turkish participation in certain areas — for example, sending troops to Ukraine in the future — then they will have to give access to Turkey.”

Yenel said that despite the dire situation in his country, he predicted that “since it seems that the EU needs Turkiye, they will not put pressure on us.”

These circumstances are forcing Greece and Cyprus to take a balanced approach to Ankara, balancing between enforcing pressure by condemning the latest political developments while continuing the process of normalizing ties with Turkiye.

“We will, of course, support a rigorous position condemning the current developments in Turkey, but without being the trigger,” one Greek official said, according to Politico, adding that “The defense industry remains a big gap for Europe, and this paves the way for this trade-off policy that we see taking place.”

Meanwhile, Cypriot MEP Michalis Hadjipantela called for "targeted sanctions" on Turkiye, while emphasizing that “measures should be targeted and linked to progress on the above issues in order to avoid further alienating the country, which would lead to more provocative policies.”

  • Turkey
  • Ekrem Imamoglu
  • Recep Tayyip Erdogan
  • EU
  • Greece
  • Turkiye
  • European Union

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS