Twenty-seven wonders about resuming discussions with Ankara

Should the European Union (EU) approach Turkey to restore and improve its diplomatic relations with Ankara or wait a little longer? The question will be at the heart of discussions between foreign ministers in Brussels on Thursday 20 July. A month and a half after being re-elected as the country’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has amplified anti-European signals in his own way.

On July 10, the Turkish head of state started surprising everyone. “A call to the countries that have kept Turkey out of the EU for more than fifty years. First we will pave the way for Turkey in the EU and then we will pave the way for Sweden as we did for Finland”. In his provocative way and by linking the process to Sweden’s candidacy for NATO, he recalls that Turkey, which has turned Europe away for a decade, is ready to renew the thread with the EU.

On July 11 and 12, during the NATO summit in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, Ankara’s strongman boosted bilateral negotiations, particularly with European Council President Charles Michel or French President Emmanuel Macron and recently re-elected Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. “There is momentum in the region. Elections have been held in Turkey, Greece and Cyprus. So this is the right time to move forward,” he said.Charles explained to Michael’s entourage after a meeting with the Turkish head of state.

“Conversation Continues”

While the twenty-seven EU leaders expect a report from the Commission and the European Diplomatic Service on relations with Turkey by October, Erdogan’s announcement makes it possible to resume dialogue. “The environment is favorable, An ambassador slips into Brussels, Because it needs us, especially to revive its economy. »

“Since then, High Representative Joseph Borrell met his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, during the G20 in Indonesia. The dialogue resumes »We say in Brussels. “The question of Turkey’s integration into the European Union is not clear in anyone’s mind today”However, a European diplomat recalled. On Tuesday, July 18, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament assessed in a report“Unless there is a drastic change from the Turkish government, Turkey’s EU accession process cannot be restarted under the current circumstances.”

On the other hand, many subjects that have been banned since 2015 can be discussed, such as the revision of the Customs Union Agreement between the EU and Turkey, the extension to services, the liberalization of migration or visas. But should we devote ourselves to these subjects and make propositions? There is still caution. “Not much has changed in their behavior in recent weeks”A diplomat from Northern Europe notes. “To grow, Turkey needs to show its feet on many issues, especially in terms of human rights”Another from the same area mentions. “At twenty-seven we must agree on our objectives and what we wish to offer Turkey, The third says This is the first discussion between us, let’s see where it goes. »

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