"Interests"

EU wants to revive relations with Turkey

(Bild: transAzja.pl – stock.adobe.com)

After years of stalemate, the EU wants to revive the heavily strained relations with Turkey. This is the result of a resolution adopted by the heads of state and government at the EU summit on Wednesday.

The European Union has a strategic interest in a stable environment in the eastern Mediterranean and a mutually beneficial relationship, it says among other things. However, the decisive factor is the extent to which Ankara participates constructively.

Talks on a customs union?
In concrete terms, the aim is to work with proposals from the EU Commission. For example, the Commission recently spoke out in favour of considering resuming talks on the modernization of the customs union between the EU and Turkey. This project, a planned visa liberalization and EU accession talks had previously been put on hold due to setbacks in the rule of law in Turkey.

The EU Commission also recently emphasized that Turkey's comparatively uncritical stance towards the radical Islamist Hamas contradicts the EU's position. The latter classifies Hamas as a terrorist organization.

Unresolved Cyprus issue
Another bone of contention is the Cyprus issue, which has not been resolved since 1974. As is well known, the Mediterranean island is de facto divided into two after a Greek coup and a Turkish military intervention. In the north, there is the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is only recognized by Turkey. The Turkish army is stationed there. The government of the EU island republic in Nicosia controls the south of the island.

The whole of Cyprus has been a member of the EU since 2004. However, as long as there is no reunification, EU law only applies to the south of the island. According to the joint declaration, the parties continue to advocate a comprehensive solution that is in line with previous UN resolutions and the principles of the EU.