Brussels, Belgium. European Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said a new round of Cyprus settlement talks could create an opportunity for Turkey to advance its European Union accession process, alongside progress in broader bilateral relations.
Link to Cyprus settlement talks
Kos told Turkey’s Anadolu Agency ahead of a visit to Turkey this week that progress is connected to bilateral relations, including renewed Cyprus settlement talks, describing the situation as “a big opportunity to continue.”
EU-Turkey ties and global context
Kos said there is more connecting the EU and Turkey than dividing them and pointed to economic interdependence between the two. She said the world is changing and described a return of imperial behaviour, citing China, Russia, and the United States as building spheres of interest.
Turkey’s regional role and EU engagement
Kos said Turkey could play an important role during and after the signing of a peace agreement in Ukraine and described the country as a very important player in the Black Sea region. She said the EU cannot exclude Turkey when considering economic and geopolitical logic and said the EU would like to see Turkey more deeply involved in some policies, while adding that conditions must be fulfilled.
Accession process and conditions
Kos said Turkey’s EU accession process has been at a standstill since 2018, while the EU still considers Turkey a candidate country. She said the bloc has seen steps away from EU standards, particularly on the rule of law and democracy.
Democracy, civil society, and market potential
Kos said Turkey has a long democratic tradition and a strong civil society, which she said the EU would like to strengthen to build trust. She also referred to the possibilities of adding Turkey’s 80 million people to the EU’s single market and said that renewed energy in developing democracy could enable much more cooperation.
What steps do you think would be most important for rebuilding trust between the EU and Turkey?