Enlargement

Turkish EU minister: It is time for the EU to stop being prisoner of the Cyprus question

The Cyprus issue should not take over on EU-Turkish relations. The EU should “look at the forest” where there are “huge benefits”, Turkey’s EU affairs minister Volkan Bozk?r told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview.

Barroso says ‘adeus’ after 10 years

He has been the longest-serving EU leader. After 10 years in office, outgoing European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso gave his last press conference in Brussels on Wednesday.

Hahn: No new member states over next five years

In his confirmation hearing at the European Parliament in Brussels on Tuesday, Austrian Commissioner-designate for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn said that no new countries will join the EU during the next five years.

EU urges Turkey to restore judiciary independence

EU Enlargement Commissioner Štefan Füle has called on Turkey to restore the independence of its judiciary, if Ankara wants to make progress towards EU accession.

Barroso on EU enlargement anniversary: “Europe is stronger, richer and safer”

Europe will celebrate on Thursday the 10th anniversary of the most extensive EU enlargement ever. Ten years ago, on 1 May 2004, ten countries joined the EU: Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta.

EU calls on Turkey to step up reforms after Erdogan claims victory in local elections

The European Union has called on Turkey to step up reforms on democracy, rule of law and freedom of expression, after Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan declared victory in local polls on Sunday.

MEPs call for constitutional reform in Turkey

MEPs expressed on Monday deep concern at recent developments in Turkey concerning allegations of high-level corruption.

Greek EU Presidency: FYROM must respect EU values

Evangelos Venizelos, the foreign minister of Greece, which holds the Council of the EU's rotating presidency, said on Tuesday that the main obstacle to Macedonia’s EU membership was the country’s lack of respect for European values.

Turkey’s Erdogan visits Brussels amid corruption scandal

Amid EU concerns over the state of democracy in Turkey, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan pushed for Turkey's EU membership bid on Monday in his first visit to Brussels in 5 years. Erdogan's trip comes after top EU officials expressed their worries on the independence of the Turkish judiciary system and the lack of media freedom.

EU and Turkey sign immigration deal

Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmström signed today (16 December) in Ankara a landmark agreement opening the way for lifting visa requirements for Turks travelling to the EU within three years. Malmström also signed with the Turkish Minister of Interior Muammer Güler a EU-Turkey readmission agreement.

Commission condemns violence in Kosovo on election day

The European Commission condemned the violent episode that took place in northern Kosovo on Sunday, as the Balkan country went to the polls in what was seen an election designed to help end years of de facto ethnic partition. Undermining a fragile EU-pact between the Balkan country and Serbia, masked men burst into three schools housing polling stations on the Serb side, lobbing tear gas and smashing ballot boxes in the ethnically-divided town of Mitrovica, a volatile Serb pocket of northern Kosovo.

EU to reopen accession talks with Turkey on November 5

EU ministers agreed on Tuesday to resume accession talks with Turkey on November 5th after a three year break. Originally scheduled in June, negotiations were put on hold after the EU accused Turkish police of using excessive force against anti-government protests earlier this year.

EC on Turkey’s democratic reform plan

Turkey’s prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, yesterday (30 September) unveiled a long-awaited democratic reform plan to bouquets from the European Commission and brickbats from his parliamentary opposition.

Erdogan’s Turkey has no place in the EU, say MEPs

MEPs on Wednesday lashed out at Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdo?an over the violent response to the protests in Istanbul. The demonstration began as a peaceful sit-in against government plans to build a shopping centre in central Istanbul. But it has now evolved into wide anti-government protest that has polarised the country. The EU expressed concern about the use of police force after clashes with the protesters left 5,000 injured and 4 dead.

Füle and Erdo?an diverge over democracy

As the most largest anti-government protests in Turkey’s recent past look set to enter a third week, Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an and EU Enlargement Commissioner Štefan Füle sparred over the issue at a conference held in Istanbul on Friday (7 June).

Macedonia erases ‘irredentist’ claims as Commission tables report

In the wake of a Commission report on Macedonia that underlines the country's "good" relations with its neighbours, the Foreign Ministry removed information from its website that was seen as irredentist by Bulgaria and Greece.

EU urges Serbia to make ‘last effort’ in negotiations with Kosovo

Serbia has rejected a European Union-brokered plan to tackle the ethnic partition of its former province Kosovo, a move that could hurt Belgrade's hopes of starting membership talks with the bloc.

Serbia-Kosovo final talks end with no deal

Serbian and Kosovar leaders left Brussels early on Wednesday without a deal after more than 12 hours of discussions. Aimed at normalising the relations between both sides, Pristine and Belgrade have held 8 rounds of EU-mediated talks but have so far failed to reach an agreement. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 with the backing of the West. But Serbia has so far refused to recognise the secession, due to concerns about the large Serbian community living in the north.

EU’s foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on the Serbia-Kosovo conflict

Crunch talks aimed at ending the ethnic partition of Serbia's former Kosovo province broke up without result early this morning (3 April), in a major setback for Serbia's hopes of starting EU membership negotiations this year.

Erdo?an calls ‘unforgivable’ his country’s EU treatment

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an said today (4 February) that his country’s half-century wait to become part of the European Union was “unforgivable” and it should be admitted without delay.