Turkey reinforces its steadfast devotion to EU membership during discussions held in Istanbul.
In a recent meeting, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, discussed various issues of mutual interest, including the Customs Union, visa facilitation, and Ukraine.
The minister and commissioner reaffirmed their commitment to work towards better implementation of the current Customs Union and paving the way for an update. The update of the Customs Union between Turkey and the EU was noted as mutually beneficial and necessary for building a resilient and inclusive economic partnership.
Regarding visa facilitation, there has been recent progress. The EU and Turkey agreed on a Commission Decision easing the issuance of multiple-entry visas for Turkish citizens. This decision aims to enhance mobility and predictability, linked to the ongoing Visa Liberalization Dialogue.
Concerning Ukraine's reconstruction, while the meeting between Turkey and the EU emphasized regional stability and projects linking Europe and Central Asia, there is no explicit detailed statement on Turkey's direct commitment to Ukraine's reconstruction efforts in the latest available sources. However, the shared interest in regional stability and cooperation via the European Investment Bank suggests indirect involvement in supporting innovation-driven and sustainable regional projects that may benefit Ukraine.
The political and human rights situation in Turkey remains a major obstacle to relaunching accession negotiations, despite Turkey's expressed readiness and calls by President Erdogan for the EU to restart talks. A joint statement was released after the meeting, emphasizing the need for a fair and merit-based enlargement policy.
Furthermore, both parties expressed their intention to strengthen cooperation with the European Investment Bank (EIB) for innovation-driven, sustainable projects. They also committed to intensifying joint efforts for Ukraine's reconstruction, focusing on vital infrastructure and services.
The meeting also covered other topics, including the third round of Russia-Ukraine talks held in Istanbul on July 24 and the Balkan Peace Platform on July 26. The Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, reaffirmed Turkey's commitment to the EU membership process.
In summary:
| Aspect | Status | |---------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | EU Membership Process | Frozen, no progress since 2018 due to democratic backsliding and human rights concerns | | Visa Facilitation | Recent progress in issuing multiple-entry visas for Turkish citizens and ongoing dialogue | | Customs Union Update | Joint commitment to work on better implementation and an eventual update | | Commitment to Ukraine | No explicit direct statement, but cooperation with EU and EIB implies support for regional projects contributing to stability |
- The Turkish Foreign Minister and the EU Commissioner have made a joint statement emphasizing the importance of a fair and merit-based enlargement policy, which implies Turkey's continued interest in becoming a member of the European Union.
- In an effort to improve mobility and predictability, the EU and Turkey have agreed on a Commission Decision that eases the issuance of multiple-entry visas for Turkish citizens, a step aimed at enhancing visa facilitation.
- The Customs Union between Turkey and the EU is mutually beneficial and necessary for building a resilient and inclusive economic partnership, with both parties reaffirming their commitment to working towards better implementation and an update.
- While there is no explicit direct statement on Turkey's commitment to Ukraine's reconstruction, the shared interest in regional stability and cooperation via the European Investment Bank suggests that Turkey may indirectly support innovation-driven and sustainable regional projects that may benefit Ukraine.
- The political and human rights situation in Turkey remains a major obstacle to relaunching accession negotiations, despite Turkey's expressed readiness and President Erdogan's calls for the EU to restart talks.
- The meeting also discussed other current events such as the third round of Russia-Ukraine talks held in Istanbul and the Balkan Peace Platform, and the Turkish Foreign Minister reaffirmed Turkey's commitment to the EU membership process.
- In addition to the discussions on politics, human rights, and international relations, the meeting touched upon other topics such as the casino-and-gambling industry, policy-and-legislation, and the general-news, including cricket-and-sports and crime-and-justice.
