Erdogan Presses EU to Support Ankara’s Role, Revive Stalled Relations

(MENAFN) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday urged the European Union to avoid rhetoric and actions that he said could weaken Ankara’s “constructive stance,” stressing that the bloc should instead acknowledge and value it, according to reports.

In a national address following a Cabinet meeting, Erdogan emphasized that Türkiye and the global order have both changed significantly, stating:
"Let it not be forgotten that Türkiye is no longer the old Türkiye, nor is the world still confined to the sphere of influence of Western states,"

He further argued that the EU cannot maintain global influence or remain an attractive center of power without Türkiye as a full member. He also criticized what he described as persistent “strategic myopia” within EU institutions regarding Türkiye.

Erdogan framed the issue as one of European strategic outlook, asserting that the key question is how Brussels envisions its own future, and adding that Europe’s dependence on Türkiye is growing, saying:
"...Tomorrow this need will increase even further,"

He also referenced the long-running EU accession process, which began in 1959, saying Ankara’s bid has often been met with bias. According to reports, he noted that relations saw renewed momentum around 2015, largely due to the migration pressures stemming from the Syrian conflict, which triggered one of the largest migration waves to Europe since World War II.

However, he said that this progress later weakened, arguing that the EU failed to sustain engagement and provide sufficient support after the July 15, 2016 attempted coup in Türkiye, during which 253 people were killed, as reported.

Erdogan added that subsequent diplomatic meetings did not generate meaningful progress, and that the current situation remains stalled without clear steps to advance Türkiye-EU relations or restore momentum between the two sides.

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