Turkey–European Union relations

Turkey would reject any offer of partnership with the European Union that falls short of membership, Ankara's minister for EU affairs said, warning that the current situation gave Turkey no reason to maintain its migrant deal with the bloc.

When Turkey is discussed in the European Union, and vice versa, all talk is about conflict, divergence and mutual recrimination nowadays. Political tones on both sides are acrimonious, high-level contact is circumscribed, and public opposition to Turkey's EU membership stands at a staggering 77 percent in the Union.

The Turkish government has slammed Austria’s new coalition government over its program vowing to end Turkey’s accession process to the European Union and to find allies within the EU to this end.

Tensions with Turkey will be high on the agenda of the European Union summit this weekend, amid calls within the bloc to freeze relations, Al Jazeera reported. 

Turkish and European officials have been in a war of words, with Ankara accusing members of the EU of supporting "terrorism" and EU politicians alleging a deterioration of democratic and human rights in Turkey.

Turkey will not lose anything if it fails to become a member of the European Union, Turkish President Recep Erdogan said, quoted by the Anadolu agency.

An update of the customs unions agreement with the European Union will be beneficial for ties between Turkey and the EU, Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci said on Sept. 27. 

"The update will be the most positive platform for our relations with the EU in upcoming period. I expect no obstacle in this regard," said Zeybekci, speaking at the Istanbul Financial Summit.

Ankara will regard any attempt to freeze or suspend accession talks as a breaking of the negotiation process, Turkey's EU Minister Ömer Çelik has said.

Turkey feels betrayed by some European Union leaders who have called for the end of accession talks but still hopes eventually to join the bloc, Turkish EU Minister Ömer Çelik has said.

The European Union (EU) should make official its position on Turkey's accession process, Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said on Friday from Tallinn, Esthonia, where he attended an informal meeting of European diplomatic chiefs, The Brussels Times writes.

"For us, it's very clear; the process is frozen," Reynders said.

The war of words between Ankara and Berlin is creating ever more risk, perhaps in unintended and unforeseen ways.