Despite ongoing economic cooperation and dialogue in the Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey’s EU accession process remains frozen.

Concerns over Democracy and Human Rights

The report points to an “alarming regression” in Turkey’s democratic standards, citing continued repression of political opponents and journalists, as well as criminal charges against elected officials and opposition figures.

It underscores the erosion of democracy and the country’s drift away from the EU’s core values, which are supposed to underpin EU–Turkey relations.

The document makes specific reference to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, a potential presidential candidate, and other members of the Republican People’s Party (CHP). It also mentions the revocation of İmamoğlu’s academic degree, which effectively bars him from running for president.

Greece–Turkey Relations: Progress and Persistent Tensions

The EU acknowledges improvements in Greek–Turkish relations and positive developments in dialogue since the Athens Declaration of December 2023.
However, it stresses that disputes over the continental shelf and maritime zones remain a significant obstacle.

According to the report, Turkey continues to challenge Greece’s sovereign rights, issuing NAVTEX notices and objecting to Greek plans for marine parks. It also notes ongoing violations of Greek airspace and territorial waters, which have reportedly increased compared to previous years.

The inclusion of the “Blue Homeland” (Mavi Vatan) doctrine in Turkish school curricula is described as “a cause for concern.”

The Commission further highlights that Greece’s potential extension of its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles in the Aegean continues to strain relations, reminding that Ankara still upholds its 1995 declaration labeling such a move as casus belli (a cause for war).

It also criticizes Turkey’s obstruction of research activities linked to the “Great Sea Interconnector” (GSI) — a European project connecting Greece, Cyprus, and Israel — while Ankara promotes its own electricity link with the unrecognized “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.”

Finally, the EU notes that no progress has been made on reopening the Halki Seminary, closed since 1971, and that UNESCO’s concerns over the conversion of Hagia Sophia and Chora Church into mosques remain unresolved.
Incidents of vandalism and hate crimes against minority places of worship also persist.

The Cyprus Issue and Foreign Policy

On Cyprus, the EU calls on Turkey to actively contribute to a fair and viable settlement, criticizing its refusal to recognize the Republic of Cyprus or comply with UN resolutions.
Ankara’s continued insistence on a two-state solution directly contradicts the positions of both the EU and the United Nations.

The report also points out that Turkey pursues an independent foreign policy, often diverging from the EU on issues such as Russia and the Middle East.

Turkey’s Response: “Unfounded and Biased Claims”

Ankara’s reaction was swift and harsh. The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed the EU report as “unfounded, biased, and prejudiced.”
It accused Brussels of adopting “maximalist and unlawful Greek and Greek Cypriot positions”, questioning the EU’s credibility on matters such as Cyprus and the continental shelf.

In its official statement, Turkey argued that the report “ignores Ankara’s legitimate concerns” and is “inconsistent with efforts to build a positive EU–Turkey agenda.”
It reaffirmed its strategic commitment to EU membership, despite what it called “unfair political obstacles” in the accession process.

Ankara also emphasized its “constructive role” in the Eastern Mediterranean and its recent diplomatic progress with Greece, calling for the lifting of restrictive EU Council decisions adopted since 2019.