German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has stated that Turkey is unlikely to join the European Union (EU) in the near future due to human rights issues. She described Turkey’s ambition of EU membership as being “deep in the freezer” because it has not met important criteria essential for the accession talks. Baerbock mentioned that the rule of law and human rights are among the issues preventing Turkey from progressing towards EU membership, and she sees the moment when Turkey would be ready to advance as a distant prospect.
Baerbock acknowledged that Turkey is a global strategically important actor in Europe’s direct vicinity, although it is not an easy neighbor of the EU. She emphasized the need for a special approach in relations with Turkey and urged for strategic reflection on the issue, particularly following President Erdogan’s re-election in May.
Despite the challenges, Germany is advocating for rapprochement with Turkey and believes that new relations between the EU and Turkey should be based on a strategic and forward-looking approach. However, Baerbock also highlighted that Europe is not naive and that there would be no gifts freely given in these geopolitically challenging times.
Earlier this month, President Erdogan raised the issue of Turkey’s EU membership bid while agreeing to give the green light to Sweden’s NATO application. Ankara had previously used its veto, demanding that Stockholm do more to crack down on what it called pro-Kurdish “terrorist organizations” in Sweden.
The European Commission spokesperson, Peter Stano, stated that Turkey’s accession to the EU would likely take years and it is impossible for Turkey to join the bloc next year. Stano emphasized that Turkey would need to meet all the necessary criteria, including human rights and political freedoms, before joining.
Russia has warned Turkey not to have expectations of a speedy accession, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stating that nobody wants to see Turkey in Europe, referring to Europeans. Turkey applied for EU membership in 1987 and became a candidate state 12 years later. However, the accession talks, which began in 2005, have been effectively frozen since 2016.
In conclusion, Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has indicated that Turkey’s EU membership is unlikely in the near future due to human rights issues and the failure to meet essential criteria for the accession talks. Despite this, Germany believes in forging a special approach and emphasizes a strategic and forward-looking relationship with Turkey. However, both the European Commission and Russia have warned about the challenges and the time it would take for Turkey to fulfill all the necessary criteria for EU membership.
Source link
