Politics · Turkey · 12 hrs ago
Türkiye rejects EU report as biased but welcomes economic findings
Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry rejected the EU’s 2026 assessment as biased, while welcoming some of its economic findings.
The European Commission issued the report as part of its annual enlargement package, which reviews countries seeking closer ties with or membership in the EU.
Ankara disputed the report’s criticism of its political standards, judiciary and fundamental rights.
It also accused the EU of favoring Greece and the Greek Cypriot side in the Cyprus dispute and rejected its assessments of the Eastern Mediterranean.
Türkiye welcomed the report’s recognition of progress in economic policy and its role in trade, supply chains, defense and security.
The dispute matters because Türkiye wants stronger EU ties, including an updated Customs Union and a stronger membership prospect.
Ankara urged the EU to turn increased dialogue into concrete decisions, but no specific next steps were announced.
Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry rejected the European Commission’s 2026 Türkiye Report, calling the EU’s approach biased and unfair.
The ministry disputed the report’s assessments of political criteria, the judiciary, fundamental rights and the Eastern Mediterranean.
It said the report favored Greek and Greek Cypriot positions and overlooked Türkiye’s and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’s interests.
The ministry welcomed the report’s recognition of Türkiye’s economic progress and strategic role, and again called for modernizing the Türkiye-EU Customs Union.
It urged the EU to turn recent dialogue into concrete decisions that strengthen Türkiye’s membership prospects.
- Who
- Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry and the European Commission.
- What
- Türkiye rejected the Commission’s 2026 report as biased and unfair, while welcoming some of its economic and strategic assessments.
- When
- Wednesday, November 4, 2026.
- Where
- Türkiye; the report concerns Türkiye and its relations with the EU.
- Why
- The ministry said the report made unfounded assessments, applied double standards and favored Greek and Greek Cypriot positions.
Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry
European Commission
Report’s assessment
Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry
The ministry rejected its claims on political criteria, the judiciary and fundamental rights as unfounded.
European Commission
The report assessed Türkiye in these areas; the ministry’s statement says it made allegations but does not detail the Commission’s rationale.
Cyprus
Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry
The ministry said the report favored Greek and Greek Cypriot positions and overlooked Türkiye’s and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’s rights and interests.
European Commission
The report endorsed Greek and Greek Cypriot positions, according to the ministry’s account.
Eastern Mediterranean
Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry
The ministry said the report’s assessments contradicted international law and fairness.
European Commission
The report included assessments of the Eastern Mediterranean; its position is not detailed in the articles.
The European Commission issued its 2026 Türkiye Report as part of the EU’s annual enlargement package.
Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry criticized and rejected the report, while welcoming some of its economic and strategic assessments.
- Report
- European Commission’s 2026 Türkiye Report
- Package
- EU annual enlargement package
- Response date
- November 4, 2026
- Disputed areas
- Political criteria, judiciary, fundamental rights and the Eastern Mediterranean
- Customs Union
- Türkiye called for modernization of the Türkiye-EU Customs Union
2 sources
What people are saying
We reject the unfounded allegations in the report, particularly in the areas of political criteria, the judiciary and fundamental rights.
The assessments on the Eastern Mediterranean in the report are wholly contrary to international law and the principle of fairness.
We are ready to advance relations within the framework of the law of association and the principle of keeping commitments, on the basis of mutual trust, respect and fairness.