Erdogan Changes Course After 53 Years: EU Integration Is No Longer a Priority for Turkey

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced that membership in the European Union is no longer among Ankara’s priorities. In an interview with Al Jazeera Arabic, he distanced himself from a goal that had been central to his policies during his early years in power.

“Europe has not accepted Turkey for 53 years, and it does not appear to be considering such a possibility in the near future either, but we have not closed the door. We are still considering membership in the European Union. If they accept us, fine. If they do not accept us, even better. The European Union is not our priority,” Erdogan said.

According to the Turkish president, if Turkey is denied membership, the European Union, rather than his country, will feel the consequences. This position marks a shift from the Turkish head of state’s previous statements.

In June 2024, during a meeting with Estonian President Alar Karis, Erdoğan had described full EU membership as a “strategic objective” for Turkey. The AKP, his party, which came to power in 2002, had also initially placed European integration at the heart of its political platform. The reforms undertaken during that period enabled Turkey to open membership negotiations in 2005.

Turkey submitted its application for full membership in 1987 and was granted candidate-country status in 1999. However, the negotiation process remains stalled. In a report published last year, the European Commission highlighted a deterioration in democratic standards, judicial independence, the rule of law and fundamental rights.