FM Hakan Fidan criticises EU over stalled Türkiye accession process  “What are you still waiting for?”

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has criticised the European Union, stating that Türkiye’s accession process and the modernisation of the Customs Union have effectively stalled, despite Ankara’s significant geopolitical and economic potential.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Austria alongside Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger, Fidan said that expanding cooperation could raise bilateral trade volume to as much as $500 billion, Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media.

However, he argued that this potential is being blocked by what he described as a “deficit of political will” within the EU.

He questioned why, given Türkiye’s role in regional security and ongoing global crises, the issue of membership has still not been resolved.

“If Türkiye fulfils the conditions, there should be a clear political statement from the EU regarding its readiness to accept it. Unfortunately, that will has been lost,” the minister said, recalling decisions taken in the late 2000s that, in his view, slowed down the integration process.

Fidan stressed that despite institutional challenges within the EU, cooperation remains essential due to multiple regional crises, ranging from the war in Ukraine to developments in the Middle East and broader European security concerns.

He also noted that trade volume between Türkiye and the EU is already approaching $250 billion and is nearly balanced, adding that an updated Customs Union would significantly strengthen economic ties.

“Our goal is to elevate relations to a higher level,” he concluded.

By Jeyhun Aghazada