Newsletters
France’s ambassador to Ankara said Tuesday that Türkiye’s stalled bid to join the European Union depends on meeting the bloc’s fundamental values, stressing that there is “no ambiguity” in the EU’s stance on Turkish membership.
“I do not think there is any ambiguity in the EU’s stance on Türkiye’s candidacy,” Ambassador Isabelle Dumont told the Ankara-based Anka news agency. “The accession process depends on compliance with concrete and clear criteria, particularly the rule of law, democracy, and human rights, which are the fundamental values of the EU.”
Dumont said Türkiye has been given the same message since accession talks began in 2005: “It is solely up to Türkiye to concretely demonstrate that it is ready to follow this path.” She added that the demanding nature of the process was meant to address concerns within the EU and among candidate countries.
Dumont also highlighted what she described as the “intensity” of bilateral relations. “You may not see it every day, but relations between France and Türkiye are quite intense. Our leaders regularly come together and meet at summits such as the G20 and NATO,” she said, noting that the presidents last spoke Aug. 21 about developments in Ukraine and Gaza.
Türkiye applied for membership in the European Economic Community in 1959, signed the Ankara Agreement in 1963, entered a Customs Union in 1996, and was recognized as an official candidate in 1999. Accession negotiations began in 2005 but have stalled due to political disputes and the Cyprus issue, though Türkiye has continued reforms aligned with EU criteria.
On France’s decision to recognize the State of Palestine, Dumont said the move was necessary to revive the two-state solution. “In recent months, it has become undeniably clear that the possibility of two recognized states is in mortal danger,” she said.
France and several Western countries, including Belgium, the U.K., Canada, and Australia, are expected to recognize Palestinian statehood during the U.N. General Assembly session Sept. 8–23. They will join 147 nations that already extend recognition.
Asked if recognition could open the way for closer ties between Ankara and Paris, Dumont said: “France and Türkiye have put forward a strong discourse on this issue. We are in constant consultation with Turkish officials, including at the highest level. In this tense regional context and within the framework of upcoming international events such as the U.N. General Assembly next week, it is clear that this dialogue will continue and intensify.”
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed nearly 65,000 Palestinians since October 2023, most of them women and children, according to health authorities in the enclave. The bombardment has left Gaza uninhabitable and triggered starvation and disease.
1 min read
2 min read
