clear

Creating new perspectives since 2009

EU-Turkey relations are at historic low, report says

May 21, 2021 at 1:27 pm

Rapporteur on Turkey for the European Parliament Nacho Sanchez Amor makes a speech at the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium on 24 November 2020. [Dursun Aydemir – Anadolu Agency]

The European Parliament on Wednesday adopted a report warning that relations between Turkey and the European Union were at a “historic low point”.

The report was passed with 480 votes in favour, 64 against and 150 abstentions.

EP Rapporteur for Turkey, Nacho Sanchez Amor, said that the report was the most critical in recent years and “reflects what has been the worst period” in contemporary EU-Turkey relations.

“Because the accession process is not driving democratic reforms, the European Parliament is committed to include democratic conditionality in every aspect of our relationship,” Amor said.

EU-Turkey relations are one of the most important, complex and volatile elements of the bloc’s foreign policy.

Turkey remains an official candidate to join the EU, although this process has been effectively frozen for years and has been overtly criticised by several heads of government.

In 2020, Turkish government launched an offensive against the EU regarding its policies regarding the Eastern Mediterrenean energy dispute and on Syrian refugees.

“2020 was a problematic year in terms of bilateral relations between Turkey and the EU,” Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in January after meeting with EU high Representative Josep Borrell in Brussels.

READ: Greek FM on Middle East tour to ‘prevent further violence’