About: EU-Turkey relations
Greek ambassador: I hope Turkey will act as an ally and release our soldiers
Greece will continue striving for the release of the two Greek officers, who have been detained in Turkey for more than a month, and hopes Ankara will act as an ally and abide by the international law and practice, Greek Ambassador to the EU, Andreas Papastavrou, told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
Greece sends home Turkish citizen who ‘accidentally’ crossed the border
Greece deported to Turkey on Monday (7 May) a Turkish citizen who accidentally crossed into its territory last week, in a move the local press described as a goodwill message to Ankara, which still holds two detained Greek soldiers.
Commission defies Turkey’s pressure and insists on Greek soldiers’ release
The European Commission insists that the two Greek soldiers arrested in Turkey should be released, despite Turkey’s pressure on the EU to take a step back from the issue.
Official: EU will not fund Turkish plan to settle refugees in Afrin
Following indications that Turkey would like to bring Syrian refugees to the area of Afrin, which it has controlled since the ‘Olive Branch’ incursion into northern Syria earlier this year, the EU made clear on Friday (20 April) that it would not be part of the game.
Hahn: Carrot for Albania and Macedonia, customs union for Turkey
With the Western Balkans accession talks underway, the EU’s enlargement policy is advancing. In the case of Turkey, however, there is a deadlock. In an interview with EURACTIV Germany, Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn comments on the recent developments.
EU Parliament calls on Erdogan to release imprisoned Greek soldiers
In a resolution expected to be voted on today (17 April), the European Parliament will urge Turkey to release two Greek soldiers who were arrested last month, according to a document seen by EURACTIV.
Greek soldiers are ‘political prisoners’ of Turkey, says Weber
Two Greek soldiers who have been held in a Turkish prison for about a month are “political prisoners”, according to the head of the European Parliament's largest group, Manfred Weber.
The Brief, powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS) – Bulgaria’s mid-term review
Three months of Bulgaria’s EU presidency have elapsed. So how is the bloc’s poorest member faring in its debut at the helm?
Varna to become permanent venue for EU-Turkey talks
The Varna summit held on Monday (26 March) between EU institution leaders and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan failed to yield any notable outcomes. But Bulgaria's PM said the port city could become a permanent venue for future talks.
Erdogan comes to leaders meeting with footage exposing ‘EU terrorism support’
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan arrives in the Bulgarian port city of Varna today (26 March) equipped with video footage that allegedly illustrates Ankara’s claim that EU countries host terrorists and do nothing to fight them.
Greek minister: EU adopts ‘strongest wording ever’ vis-à-vis Turkey
EU's summit conclusions on Turkey adopted during the night of 22 to 23 March are the strongest ever as they explicitly urge Ankara to stop violating international law, Greece's Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Georgios Katrougalos told EURACTIV.com.
Turkey jails 25 journalists as terrorists
An Istanbul court yesterday (8 March) sentenced 25 journalists to prison terms of up to seven and a half years over links to the group blamed by Turkey for the 2016 failed coup, in a mass trial of media staff detained after the putsch bid.
EU-Turkey Varna summit becomes conditional
Cypriot President Nikos Anastasiades succeded on Friday (23 February) in convincing his colleagues at the EU summit to make a planned “leaders’ meeting” with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Varna conditional on stopping “illegal violations” in the Cypriot economic zone.
Borissov: Turkey summit will be ‘extremely difficult’
An upcoming summit with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the Bulgarian city of Varna in March will be a "heavy experience", Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov told journalists on Friday (23 February), ahead of the informal EU summit.
17 Turkish citizens ‘escape’ from Erdogan and seek asylum in Greece
The Greek coastguard has rescued 17 Turkish citizens, including children, who reached the island of Oinousses on Monday (19 February) and asked for asylum, citing fear of persecution back home.
EU will not lift visas unless Turkey eases terrorism laws
The European Union told Turkey today (16 February) it would not ease travel requirements for its citizens unless Ankara softens counter-terrorism laws that the bloc says are excessive.
Expert: Erdogan is turning international relations ‘decades back’
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has opened up his entire reviewing agenda, challenging sovereign rights everywhere and basically testing the West's limits, Tasos Chatzivasileiou told EURACTIV Greece in an interview.
Employers suggest Turkish-style UK-EU customs union to solve Brexit impasse
Britain and the European Union could reduce their differences over future trade ties by agreeing a compromise deal that would keep a chunk of British exports within the EU's customs union after Brexit, a British employers' group said.
Upgraded customs union should serve as bedrock of EU-Turkey ties
Treating Turkey like a naughty child has proved to be a failed strategy for Brussels. It’s time to look anew at the elements of the relationship that could work, both now and in the long term, write Mehmet Öğütçü and Stephen Jones.
MEPs call on Turkey to lift state of emergency, stop civil society crackdown
The European parliament yesterday (8 February) called on Turkey to scrap the emergency powers which members said were being used to stifle "legitimate and peaceful opposition" and a free press.
Turkey to press for visa-free travel at Varna summit
EU diplomats expect Turkey to press the issue of visa liberalisation during the upcoming summit in Varna on 26 March. It is still unclear if this is a real priority for Ankara or just negotiating tactics as part of a bigger picture.
Erdogan in Rome: Let Turkey be full EU member
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has rejected proposals of a partnership with the EU, insisting full membership to the bloc is the only option, in an interview published Sunday (4 February).
Are there conditions for holding EU-Turkey summit?
The European Commission and the Council offered contradictory views on Friday (2 February) on whether conditions would be attached to holding an EU-Turkey summit in the Bulgarian Black Sea city of Varna in March.