Ankara, Turkey. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the position of the Republic of Cyprus is preventing progress in relations between Turkey and the European Union, including the modernisation of the EU-Turkey Customs Union. He said both Ankara and Brussels agree on the need to update the arrangement, but that the process is being blocked.
Comments after EU delegation visit
In an interview with CNN Turk, Fidan referred to recent contacts in Ankara involving a high-level European Union delegation made up of three commissioners.
He said the European officials held talks with him and other ministers and were also received by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.
“It was important for them to hear from our President, from the highest authority, what Turkey’s perspective on the European Union is and what our expectations are,” Fidan said.
Customs Union modernisation
Fidan said neither Ankara nor the European institutions are satisfied with the current stagnation in EU-Turkey relations.
“The Customs Union must certainly be modernised, upgraded and updated. On this issue, both sides agree,” he said.
He added that the process is being obstructed by the position of the Republic of Cyprus.
“There is an issue causing a blockage: the position taken by the Greek Cypriot side. They are facing problematic areas as to how they will overcome this,” Fidan said, referring to the European institutions.
Outlook for EU-Turkey relations
Fidan said there has been a limited revival in relations between Turkey and European Union institutions, pointing to frequent visits and contacts by European commissioners to Ankara.
He said that for there to be “greater, tangible and strategic results”, the European Union would need to make decisions regarding the way it functions.
