About: EU-Turkey relations
Greece short of friends in Europe as Erdogan steps up pressure
The decision to postpone the EU council meeting solved – for the time being – one thorny EU question, writes Denis MacShane. What to do about Turkey’s new Sultan Erdogan and his non-stop aggression against EU member states, and core EU values?
EU must openly discuss Turkey sanctions, says Austria’s EU minister
At the next European summit, Austria wants to speak openly about sanctions against Ankara, including the possibility to break off accession talks with Turkey, the country's EU Minister Karoline Edtstadler told EURACTIV Germany.
France hosts Med leaders for summit on Turkey tensions
French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday (10 September) hosts leaders from Mediterranean states for a summit set to be dominated by growing tensions between Turkey and EU states in the east of the sea.
Turkey’s Erdogan urges talks to defuse gas row with Greece
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for dialogue on Monday (10 August) while still pushing ahead with a contentious Mediterranean gas development plan that has outraged Greece and alarmed NATO and the EU.
EU to give Turkey more time to avoid tax blacklisting
European Union diplomats have reached a preliminary agreement to give Turkey more time to meet tax transparency requirements, two diplomatic sources said, in a move that could weaken the bloc’s blacklist but at the same time avoid a new clash...
Tensions grow as Cyprus says Turkish drilling ship violates its rights
Tensions between Cyprus and Turkey over offshore drilling intensified on Friday (4 October) when Nicosia said a decision to send a ship to an area it had already licensed was a "severe escalation" of Turkish violations of its sovereign rights.
No new phase seen in EU-Turkey relations after EP elections
The latest European Commission progress reported has warned that Turkey is moving away from Europe. Little progress on the country's accession is expected under the new EU legislature in 2019-2024, but political analysts don't expect major negative changes either, as long as the refugee deal is in place.
Weber: I am concerned about key issues in Hungary
EURACTIV Poland's media partner "Gazeta Wyborcza" interviewed Manfred Weber, who announced his candidacy to be the Spitzenkandidat of the European Peoples' Party in the 2019 European elections.
Turkish instability threatens Europe from the Italian flank
Market pressure, financial exposure and a potential review of a key migration deal with Ankara has made Italy the most vulnerable country to the recent financial turmoil in Turkey.
Greek minister: Erdogan planned the arrest of our two soldiers
The arrest of two Greek soldiers at the border with Turkey was “pre-planned” and ordered by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Greek defence minister Panos Kammenos has claimed.
Hahn on Western Balkans: Exporting stability instead of importing instability
The Commission is satisfied with its Western Balkans strategy, as it has triggered a new dynamic in the region. In an interview with EURACTIV Germany, Commissioner for Enlargement, Johannes Hahn, however, pleads for realism.
Not too close but not too far away: The EU’s relations with the new Turkey
The 24 June elections marked the start of a new term in the Turkish Republic’s political history as the elections completed the transition from a parliamentary to a presidential system. The result of these elections could affect Turkey's relations with the EU, writes Seda Gurkan.
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.