Türkiye’s strategic value to the West cannot outweigh its ongoing democratic backsliding, and EU membership is off the table unless Ankara reverses course, European lawmakers warned on Thursday.
In a resolution adopted by the European Parliament with 367 votes in favour, 74 against, and 188 abstentions, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) declared that Türkiye’s EU accession process “cannot resume under the current circumstances.” The report cited the Turkish government’s failure to address democratic deficiencies and a worsening human rights climate.
“EU membership criteria are not up for negotiation,” the report states, underscoring that democratic standards, rule of law, human rights, and respect for minorities are non-negotiable prerequisites for accession.
MEPs sharply criticised the Turkish government’s suppression of dissent, including recent crackdowns on peaceful protests and what they described as hasty, politically motivated mass trials. The ongoing legal pressure against Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was singled out as a move intended to sideline a major political challenger.
“The further they push towards a full authoritarian model – as observed recently with Ekrem İmamoğlu’s arrest – the further they move away from EU membership,” said Nacho Sánchez Amor (S&D, Spain), the Parliament’s rapporteur.
The Parliament also condemned President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s unauthorized visit to the occupied areas of Cyprus, labelling it a unilateral provocation and an illegitimate intervention.
Despite these concerns, MEPs acknowledged Türkiye’s importance as a NATO ally and geopolitical actor, citing its influence in regions such as the Black Sea, the Middle East, and Ukraine. Lawmakers called for deeper cooperation in mutual areas of strategic interest, including energy security, climate action, and counter-terrorism, while warning that continued democratic backsliding would hinder meaningful progress.
While recognising the pro-European sentiment among much of Türkiye’s youth and civil society, MEPs stressed that aspirations alone are not enough to reopen stalled accession negotiations.
“Membership is about democracy,” Sánchez Amor added. “Security and geopolitics matter, but they do not override fundamental rights.”
