The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to the European Parliament's report on Turkey, but the Turkish Foreign Ministry spoke of 'ideological cliche' of MEPs, and ... to provide "grounds to terrorist organisations".
Ankara's reaction came a few hours after in favour of the report criticising the Government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Both on matters of the rule of law and civil liberties and its attitude towards Greece and Cyprus.
In its communication, the Turkish Foreign Ministry attempts to present the report as politically biased, accusing some MEPs of repeating "ideological clichés" and ignoring the Turkish side's positions.
❝Mesnetsiz ithamları kesin bir dille reddediyoruz❞
Dışişleri Bakanlığı, Avrupa Parlamentosu Genel Kurulu’nda kabul edilen 2025 Yılı Türkiye Raporu hakkında açıklama yaptı ⤵
— (Rapor) Ülkemiz karşıtı çevrelerin temelsiz iddialarına ve yanlış billilere dayanan, Gerçeklerle... pic.twitter. com/LjWTg1mXP8— Anadolu Ajansı (@anadoluajansi) June 17, 2026
Particularly sharp is the reference to 'grounds in terrorist organisations' with which the Turkish side is attempting to link European criticism to issues of internal security and terrorism. This is a familiar rhetoric of Turkish diplomacy, which often attributes European criticisms of rights, freedoms and opposition to unilateral or hostile reading of developments within the country.
The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs' response points to the following:
The report contains estimates based on unfounded allegations and misinformation from circles hostile to our country and are inconsistent with the facts.
It is obvious that it was drawn up in the context of a deliberate political agenda reflecting the ideological clichés of some MEPs.
Clearly, the report aims to overshadow the current positive agenda, at a time when the strategic importance of Turkey-EU relations is growing increasingly.
This approach, which provides ground for terrorist organisations and circles hostile to Turkey, once again demonstrates how far the EP is from presenting a strategic vision for the future of Turkey-EU relations.
We strongly reject the targeting of our honourable Minister of Justice on unfounded charges, through the distortion of legal proceedings conducted by independent Turkish justice.
Turkish justice does not accept any interference from any international institution, external agent or political circle.
Rape in Turkey for "Blue Country", 12 miles and casus belliIt is recalled that by a large majority the European Parliament approved the annual report on Turkey, indicating that Ankara's distance from the European Union's principles, values and strategic interests is expanding. The report was voted for by 381 votes, while recorded107 negative votes and 171 abstentions.
At the same time, concern is expressed about the maintenance ofCassus belli against Greece, while critical of the continued violation of the sovereignty and sovereign rights of EU Member States, especially Greece and Cyprus.
The text, prepared by the SpanishSocialist MEPNacho Sanchez Amor, recalls that Turkey's accession talks with the EU remain frozen since 2018, due to the problems recorded in the area of the rule of law.
The report notes that, due to the 'lack of progress' and the 'Regression of democracy"in Turkey, "Turkey's EU accession process cannot be restarted under the current circumstances".
Special reference is made to human rights and the rule of law, withEuropean Parliamentdescribe the situation as a 'dient' and refer to an ongoing 'democratic setback'. At the same time, it is noted that legislation and measures still apply which, according to the report, restrict the rule of law and fundamental rights.
For the first time the EP report criticises the silence of other EU institutions and many EU Member States, against the erosion of the rule of law in Turkey, calling on them to be 'more loud" on this subject.
At the same time, the EP urges the Turkish Government, the EU institutions and Member States to continue working, beyond the frozen accession process, towards a 'closer, more dynamic and strategic'partnership“ It’s just that I’ve been thinking. ” The report examines EU-Turkey relations in addition to the accession process in areas of mutual interest, repeatingCall for the resumption of all relevant high-level dialogues to address common challenges such as the modernisation of the customs union. Turkey's importance for compliance with the outstanding assessment criteria for the reopening of the visa liberalisation process (visa) is also stressed.
Regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations
The EP expresses its support for theGreek-Turkey dialogue, such as the Mitsotaki-Erdorgan Summit of February 2026, as a step towards deescalation in the Eastern Mediterranean. At the same time, the EP reiterates its call to Turkey to adopt a "constructive and not a demanding or aggressive approach" in the region. Criticizing Turkey's promotion of the doctrine of the "Blue Country", expresses deep concern about its preservationCassus belli against Greece, which characterizes an incompatible between allies and good neighbors, and criticises the ongoingviolation of EU sovereignty and sovereign rights, in particular theGreeceandCyprusAt the same time, it mentions Greece's right to increase its territorial waters to 12 miles.
Special reference is made to the violations of Greek airspace, in «political tooling• the NAVTEX system, interventions in projects of common European interest such asGreat Sea Interconnectedorand EastMed, in the reactions for the Greek marine park in the Aegean and the increase in illegal fishing activities of Turkish vessels within Greek territorial waters. The EP calls on Ankara to fully respect the sovereignty of the Member States, including their right to delimit EEZs in accordance with international law and UNCLOS, while reaffirming that the Turkish-Libyan memorandum "infres the sovereign rights of third States, is inconsistent with the Law of the Sea and cannot produce legal effects for third countries".
The EP emphasises the need to respect the recommendations of the Venice Commission, particularly with regard to minorities, such as the Greek Orthodox population of Imbros and Tenthu, as well as respect for the Ecumenical Patriarchate, with recognition of its legal personality and the title of the Ecumenical Patriarch. They express deep concern about the lack of protection of monuments of world heritage, such as Saint Sophia and the Monastery of Panagia Sumelas, as well as the acts of vandalism against minority places of worship, calling for the immediate implementation of UNESCO decisions.
Security and Defence
On security and defence issues, the report highlights Turkey's strategic and geopolitical importance for the EU and theNATO, recognising its growing role in areas crucial to European security, such asBlack Sea, theUkraine, theSouth CaucasusandMiddle East, as well as its contribution to EU crisis management missions. The EP advocates further strengthening practical cooperationEU-Turkeyon security and defence issues where common strategic interests exist, however, it is concerned that Ankara's continued blocking EU-NATO cooperation through the exclusion of an EU member state and calls on Turkey to abandon this practice.
At the same time, the report records further deterioration in Turkey's alignment with the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy, whichretreated from 6% in 2024 to 4% in 2025, the lowest level recorded. While welcoming the intensification of political dialogue and Turkey's participation in EU missions, the EP expresses concern at the growingTurkish authorities' anti-Western attitude and calls Ankarato lift obstacles that undermine confidence between allies, such as maintaining casus belli againstMember Stateof the EU, disputes over sovereignty of other states and the maintenance of the Russian air defence system S-400. In addition, it expresses serious concern about Turkey's approach to BRICS+ and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, stressing that full membership of BRICS+ is fundamentally incompatible with its EU accession path.
Despite the above reservations, the EP considers that, in the light of geopolitical developments, "the possibilities for cooperation with Turkey should be explored in the context of EU current and future security and defence policies." At the same time, however, it calls on Ankara "to lift the serious obstacles that undermine trust between partners and allies".
Cyprus
The European Parliament reaffirms its firm position that the only solution to this problem is to ensure that the European Parliament is fully aware of the importance of the European Union's role in the fight against terrorism.Cyprus problemis a fair, comprehensive, sustainable and democratic settlement, within the agreed framework of the United Nations, on the basis of a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with a single international legal personality, single sovereignty, uniform citizenship and political equality as defined in its relevant decisions.Security Council, in the agreed areas of convergence and within the UN SG, as well as in accordance with international law and EU principles and values. Welcomes recent initiatives to relaunch negotiations, including informal meetings under the auspices ofUN in 2025-2026, as well as confidence building measures between the two communities. At the same time, it condemns Turkey's unilateral actions, such as the illegal settlement of residents in Varosia and the usurpation of Greek Cypriot property, while calling for the withdrawal of Turkish troops from the island and respect for the Green Line. Finally, it emphasises that the prospect of closer EU-Turkey cooperation depends on full compliance with the Copenhagen criteria and Ankara's constructive contribution to resolving Cyprus, including demilitarisation and human rights protection.
The report's rapporteur, Nacho Sanseth Amor, said that "Turkey's EU accession process cannot be restarted under current circumstances." He stressed that we have been waiting for good news for 10 years from Turkey, but a "absolute lack of will" of compliance with European authorities is recorded. He stressed that "now Turkey is a truly authoritarian country" and wondered "what an authoritarian country can do in the EU", noting that there is a civil society that wants democracy rather than authoritarianism. He stressed that 'we do not want to kill their last hope', but that the rule of law and human rights are prerequisites for the EU.
He added that it is necessary to build an operational framework for coexistence with Turkey, but in this effort, Greece and Cyprus are crucial and integral pillars of the relationship. As he said, security and defence issues remain key, however, it is clear that there are still serious lacks of confidence and deviations from the principles of good neighbourlyness, which must be dealt with with effectively