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The Speaker of Turkish Parliament Numan Kurtulmus strongly criticized the European Parliament's recently adopted 2023-24 Türkiye Report, describing it as "filled with unjust accusations" and reflecting entrenched prejudices against Türkiye.
"This report, filled with unjust accusations about our institutions, foreign policy and democratic functioning, is far from contributing to a constructive dialogue and vision for a common future," Kurtulmus said in a statement shared on his social media account following the European Parliament's vote.
The Parliament speaker argued that Türkiye-EU relations require an approach based on "mutual trust and common interests," highlighting what he sees as inconsistencies in the European body's stance toward Türkiye.
Kurtulmus pointedly released his statement on May 9, Europe Day, noting that Türkiye expects commitment to the values Europe represents while emphasizing the importance of jointly combating discrimination, xenophobia, Islamophobia and double standards that he says are rising across the European continent.
"As the Grand National Assembly, our expectation is for the European Parliament to act with a responsible and realistic perspective, opening space for dialogue and cooperation steps that will positively contribute to Türkiye's relations with the EU," Kurtulmus stated.
The criticism comes amid ongoing tensions in Türkiye-EU relations, which have faced numerous challenges in recent years over issues ranging from democratic standards to regional policy disagreements.
The European Parliament regularly issues progress reports on countries seeking EU membership, with Türkiye having been a candidate country since 1999, though accession talks have effectively stalled in recent years.
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