Turkey and the EU are set to resume talks on the former’s full membership bid, which has been on hold for years. A senior official from the EU said that Turkey is a candidate country and a crucial partner for the bloc, but also highlighted the need to respect human rights and freedoms. The official said that a report on Turkey-EU relations will be discussed in the fall, and that the talks will be based on common interests and bridging existing differences.
The country’s accession process was thrust back into the spotlight after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made the recommencement of the country’s membership talks a prerequisite for ratifying Sweden’s NATO bid. Turkey has long said that it is a political decision and calls on the EU to be more honest and adequate. Turkey is also making progress on visa exemption and anti-terrorism criteria, as well as freedom of expression.