Tuesday, 02 January 2024 12:17 GMT

Türkiye Eyes "New Progress" in EU Membership


(MENAFN) Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan expressed optimism on Saturday that there could soon be "new progress" in Ankara's efforts to join the EU, highlighting recent statements by Germany's chancellor.

During a live interview with a news agency, Fidan praised Friedrich Merz’s remarks endorsing Türkiye’s EU membership, describing them as “an important renewal of political will.”

“I believe there will be new progress with the European Union in this period,” he remarked, adding, “For the German chancellor to state publicly in Ankara that Germany wants Türkiye in the EU is a significant renewal of political will. The fact that this comes from Germany is important, and we value it.”

Addressing a question on Türkiye’s accession negotiations, Fidan noted that both Ankara and Brussels are navigating a “new set of conditions and psychology,” which necessitates innovative strategies and policies.

He emphasized that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s stance after his reelection in May 2023 has been a pivotal factor.

“Following the election, the president made it clear to me that he expected maximum effort on this file,” Fidan explained, stressing that this directive represents a direct mandate regarding EU policy.

Fidan also commented on evolving EU security and defense priorities, pointing out that the union’s initiative to restructure its security framework focuses heavily on reinvigorating the defense industry.

He observed that this emphasis gained traction after the Russia-Ukraine conflict and was further accelerated during the Trump administration.

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