Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared on October 1, 2023, that Turkey would no longer accept the conditions and requirements set by Brussels for joining the European Union (EU). During his speech in the Turkish Parliament, Erdogan expressed frustration over unfulfilled promises and stated that Ankara would not entertain any new demands or conditions in the EU accession process.
President Erdogan's announcement was made during a speech in the Turkish Parliament, where he expressed Turkey's discontent with the EU's handling of the accession process. Erdogan was quoted as saying,
"We have fulfilled all the promises made to the European Union, but they have fulfilled almost none of their promises."
He emphasized that Ankara "will not accept any new demands or conditions in the process of joining the union."
Erdogan's speech further underscored Turkey's frustration with the EU's perceived lack of commitment. He stated,
"Turkey does not expect anything from the European Union, which has been waiting for us for 40 years. Brussels cannot make demands on Turkey,"
in the current context.
A key point of contention raised by Erdogan was the visa regime for Turkish citizens. He argued that if the EU does not rectify "injustices such as the visa regime" against Turkish citizens, Brussels would lose its right to impose political, economic, and military demands on Turkey. Erdogan's remarks indicate that the visa issue is a significant factor in Turkey's deteriorating relations with the EU.
Turkey's aspiration to join the European Union dates back to 1999 when the country applied for membership. Formal negotiations toward accession began in 2005 but were suspended at the end of 2016. While Erdogan has displayed limited interest in intensifying these membership talks, a potential window for progress was noted until 2023, pending the Turkish parliament's approval of Sweden's NATO membership application.
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