The European Union currently lacks the political will to admit Türkiye into its ranks, despite geopolitical conditions necessitating closer cooperation between Ankara and Brussels, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has stated.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the Foreign Minister emphasized that global developments are forcing the two entities to work together regardless of the formal status of their relationship. "Geopolitical developments are evolving in a way that compels us to work together, irrespective of the nature of our relations with the European Union. This includes the Russia-Ukraine crisis, the Middle East crisis, the Strait of Hormuz, developments in our region, maintaining stability in the Balkans, trade, and defense," Fidan noted.
The minister pointed out that Türkiye offers significant geostrategetic, geopolitical, and geoeconomic advantages. "The problem is that the EU lacks the political will to accept Türkiye even after membership conditions are met," he said. Fidan recalled that such political will was previously demonstrated by former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and former French President Jacques Chirac, but argued this momentum was disrupted in 2007. He clarified that Türkiye has never demanded admission without meeting the necessary criteria, acknowledging that joining such an organization requires fulfilling specific standards.
Fidan also addressed the structural hurdles within the EU, noting that the bloc's decision-making rules allow a single small member state to block the interests of the majority. "For example, if 26 out of 27 EU countries, representing approximately 400 million people, want something, a country with a population of less than one million can block that decision. Consequently, Türkiye can become a hostage to this situation within the EU," he added.
Regarding economic ties, the Foreign Minister stated that current discussions are focused on the modernization of the Customs Union rather than immediate membership. He suggested that the trade volume between the two parties could potentially increase to $500 billion. "Both sides want this, but they cannot take the step. We are talking about updating the existing Customs Union agreement, which would benefit both parties. European officials tell us this as well, yet something prevents the expression of that will. We hope this can be overcome," Fidan concluded.
Türkiye's bid to join the European Union is one of the longest-running diplomatic processes in modern history, with formal accession negotiations having officially started in 2005. Despite the stagnation in membership talks, Türkiye remains a critical strategic partner for the EU in areas of regional security, migration management, and energy corridors, particularly as a bridge between Europe and Asia.
