With the draft agreement for Sweden’s NATO membership moving forward, a backdrop forms the scene: Türkiye is expected to finalize the process in a matter of weeks. In Brussels, the European Union signals a renewed interest in Ankara, aiming to rekindle high-level dialogue. The Council of Ministers has proposed restarting partnership council meetings that stalled four years ago over Ankara’s offshore drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean. The EU’s High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, underscored the goal of calm and prosperity in the region as the report is prepared for European leaders.
The analysis outlines the mandate of the Council and notes that EU-Turkey relations, paused since late 1999, are slated for a March 2021 review. It frames Turkey as a candidate country still within a long-term engagement, emphasizing that conversations paused for more than five years should be reopened as part of a broader strategy to treat Ankara as a strategic partner in Brussels’ view given regional geopolitical tensions and Turkey’s pivotal role in Middle Eastern stability.
The recommendations advocate maintaining a framework of high-level dialogue. The focus areas—economy, energy, and transportation—were suspended in 2019 unless Ankara resumes what Brussels sees as illegal drilling near Cyprus. Following that logic, the 27 EU member states should keep the Association Council and High-Level Political Dialogue at the ministerial level active. The plan also calls for restarting sectoral dialogues on climate, health, migration, security, agriculture, and research, innovation, and trade. The road map supports inviting the Turkish foreign minister to participate in informal EU meetings where relevant and urges Ankara to increase its contributions to European peacekeeping operations.
The list of sector-level possibilities is extensive and could require restarting talks on modernizing the customs union and reinforcing cooperation on migration. It also suggests reactivating readmission of migrants from Greek islands and Cyprus. In return, the Twenty-Seven are urged to explore measures such as visa facilitation for Turkish citizens, particularly for business travelers, students, and families with EU ties.
“A more constructive attitude”
EU officials note that Turkey has shown a more constructive stance on various issues in recent years, with notable improvements in bilateral relations with neighboring EU countries like Cyprus and Greece. While acknowledging that the relaunch of relations remains fragile, Brussels emphasizes that these improvements deserve continued support. The Cyprus problem remains a significant challenge, as do Ankara’s positions on Hamas and concerns about domestic human rights and the rule of law. Decisions before the European Court of Human Rights loom large in the assessment of Turkey’s human rights record.
Experts warn that EU-Turkey ties still face many obstacles, but maintaining good-faith dialogue and avoiding unilateral moves, including on Cyprus, could foster a more cooperative and mutually beneficial dynamic. During the document’s presentation, Borrell argued that developing a relationship with Ankara in every feasible area aligns with the Commission’s strategic interests and should be grounded in good faith, proportionality, and reversibility. EU enlargement commissioner Oliver Varhelyi emphasized a shared effort to address disagreements from multiple angles, noting that there are more shared interests than points of contention when it comes to Turkey’s role in regional stability and European objectives.