EU urges Turkey to prioritize democratic reforms if it wants to revive membership bid

ANKARA — A high-ranking European official stressed the imperative need for Turkey to embark on comprehensive democratic reforms as a pivotal step toward revitalizing its long-standing aspiration to join the European Union. The call came following a meeting between European representatives and Turkish officials.

EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi underlined on Wednesday that Turkey must undertake substantial democratic reforms to breathe new life into its decades-old endeavor to attain EU membership.

Várhelyi journeyed to the Turkish capital for discussions with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and other officials. His visit came on the heels of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s proposal to reinvigorate Turkey’s stalled EU membership negotiations, contingent on Sweden’s accession to NATO.

Highlighting the protracted standstill in membership negotiations between Ankara and Brussels since 2018, Várhelyi emphasized the existence of unambiguous standards set by the European Council. He underscored that addressing these standards is intrinsically tied to democratic principles and the rule of law, asserting that they represent non-negotiable benchmarks for EU membership considerations.