EU Council approved conclusions on enlargement
TÜRKİYE
54. The Council recalls all previous Council and European Council conclusions on the European Union’s relations with Türkiye, including in particular the European Union’s strategic interest in a stable and secure environment in the Eastern Mediterranean and in the development of a cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship with Türkiye.
55. The EU remains ready to engage with Türkiye in a phased, proportionate and reversible manner in a number of areas of common interest, subject to established conditionalities set out by the Members of the European Council on 25 March 2021 and in previous European Council conclusions. The Council also remains committed to maintaining an open and frank dialogue, to addressing common challenges and to cooperating in essential areas of joint interest such as migration, public health, climate, counterterrorism and regional issues. The Council takes note of the continuation of High Level Dialogues between the EU and Türkiye on several of these issues.
56. The Council takes good notes of the recent improvements in relations between Türkiye and Greece in the expectation that they will be sustainable. The Council welcomes the de- escalation in the Eastern Mediterranean, which needs to be sustained.
57. The EU swiftly responded in solidarity to the February 2023 earthquakes that struck south-eastern Türkiye, providing rescue teams and in-kind support via the Union’s Civil Protection Mechanism, and contributed to the mobilisation of an overall pledge of EUR 6 billion by the international community.
58. The Council continues to expect Türkiye to unequivocally commit to good neighbourly relations and the peaceful settlement of disputes, having recourse, if necessary, to the International Court of Justice. The Council, as stated in all relevant Council conclusions, as well as in the Declaration of 21 September 2005, calls on Türkiye to fulfil its obligations under the Negotiating Framework, including the full, non-discriminatory implementation of the Additional Protocol to the Association Agreement towards all Member States. Recognition of all Member States is essential. Türkiye must normalise its relations with the Republic of Cyprus and respect the sovereignty, and territorial integrity of all EU Member States, as, well as all their sovereign rights, in accordance with EU and international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
59. Recalling previous Council and European Council conclusions, the EU remains fully committed to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem within the UN-agreed framework, in accordance with all relevant UNSC resolutions and in line with the principles on which the EU is founded and the acquis. It remains crucial that Türkiye commits and contributes to such a peaceful settlement, including its external aspects. The EU calls for the speedy resumption of negotiations and is ready to play an active role in supporting all stages of the UN-led process. The Council recalls the importance of the status of Varosha, condemnsall Türkiye’s unilateral actions that run contrary to UN Security Council resolutions, and reiterates its calls for their immediate reversal. The Council calls on Türkiye to respect the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, in particular Resolutions 541, 550, 789 and 1251.
60. In line with previous years’ Council conclusions, also recalling Türkiye’s international commitments in these regards, the Council reiterates its serious concerns about the continued and deeply worrying backsliding in the areas of democracy, rule of law, and fundamental rights. The systemic lack of independence and undue pressure on the judiciary continue to be a source of serious concern, as well as the restrictions on media freedom and freedom of expression. Türkiye should step up its cooperation with the Council of Europe and its relevant bodies and institutions, address their key recommendations, fully implement the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) and other international human rights instruments to which Türkiye is a party, as well as execute all judgments of the European Court of Human Rights in line with Article 46 of the ECHR. Türkiye’s continued failure to implement rulings of the ECHR raises questions about its commitment to the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights and to its international obligations. The Council calls on Türkiye to urgently reverse the negative trends in all these areas and credibly address the many serious shortcomings identified in the Commission's report.
61. On the economic criteria, the Council encourages Türkiye to continue implementing steps to revert to more stability-oriented macroeconomic policies and address persisting concerns over the proper functioning of Türkiye’s market economy, including the institutional and regulatory environment. The Council further recalls the need for Türkiye to fulfil its obligations as regards the implementation of the EU-Turkey Customs Union, ensuring its effective application to all Member States. The Council also reiterates that free circulation of goods, including dual use goods, should not be allowed to lead to circumvention of EU restrictive measures.
62. The EU-Turkey Statement of 2016 remains the key framework for cooperation on migration and continues to deliver results. In line with the European Council conclusions of October 2021, the Council expects Türkiye to ensure the full and non-discriminatory implementation of the EU - Turkey Statement, including vis-à -vis the Republic of Cyprus, to resume returns and to prevent irregular arrivals. The full and effective implementation of the EU-Turkey Readmission Agreement and cooperation in the area of justice and home affairs with all EU Member States remain essential. The Council stresses the need for Türkiye to align with the EU visa policy.
63. The Council notes with deep concern that Türkiye’s foreign policy, as detailed in the Commission's report, is increasingly colliding with the EU priorities under the Common Foreign and Security Policy, and reiterates its strong expectation of Türkiye to step up its alignment with EU CFSP positions and restrictive measures as a matter of utmost priority. While the Council acknowledges the constructive role Türkiye played in facilitating the export of Ukrainian grain, the Council deeply regrets Türkiye’s non-alignment with EU restrictive measures adopted in response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and underlines the paramount importance of preventing their circumvention.
64. The Council notes with regret that Türkiye continues to move further away from the European Union and recalls its previous conclusions which noted that Türkiye’s accession negotiations therefore effectively have come to a standstill and no further chapters can be considered for opening or closing.