EP Turkey Rapporteur explains: Why Turkey's EU membership process has stalled

European Parliament Standing Rapporteur for Turkey Nacho Sanchez Amor stated that the transition of emergency laws enacted following the July 15 coup attempt into permanent legislation has been a key factor in the interruption of Turkey's EU membership process. Noting that foreign policy alignment between the EU and Turkey is at its lowest level in history, Amor remarked that the system in Turkey resembles the Russian model.

Speaking to Euronews Turkish, Amor said the most significant factor in the stalling of Turkey's EU membership process was the fact that the state of emergency (OHAL) laws introduced after the July 15 coup attempt became permanent.

Stating that it was natural for Turkey to enact emergency laws against threats following the coup attempt, EP Turkey Rapporteur Nacho Sanchez Amor noted that these laws were subsequently used against individuals with no connection to the coup.

Referring to the "trustee appointment regulation" introduced after the coup attempt, Sanchez Amor said, "These laws, which were said to be enacted to protect the state from a coup, began to be used against people who had nothing to do with the coup. Subsequently, the fact that these emergency laws became permanent led to the structure in Turkey becoming incompatible with the genetic codes of the EU."

Reminding that the government's trustee practice, which began with the HDP, has continued with the CHP, Amor stated, "Elected mayors are being replaced by officials appointed by the party that lost the election. This is a situation that is very difficult to explain abroad. For these reasons, the accession process to the EU has been frozen."

"I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS ANOTHER COUNTRY"

Sanchez Amor continued his remarks as follows:

"Sometimes when you live in your own bubble, you don't realize how it looks from the outside. But when viewed from the outside, this is quite ridiculous. If there is a problem with a mayor, someone from the party that won the election should replace them. But you enacted this law after the coup, and even though the danger has passed, you are still using it. I don't know if there is any other country in the world that uses such a law."

The trustee regulation, which had been annulled by the Constitutional Court (AYM) in 1988, was reintroduced to the Municipal Law via a Decree-Law (KHK) issued after the July 15 coup attempt.

This regulation, introduced through Decree-Law No. 674 during the state of emergency, grants the Minister of Interior the authority to "suspend from duty due to crimes of terrorism or aiding and abetting terrorist organizations."

"IT RESEMBLES THE RUSSIAN MODEL"

Noting that Turkey is moving away from its EU membership goal with current practices, Sanchez Amor compared the country's system to the "Russian model."

Asking, "Doesn't it feel like the system smells a bit like the Russian model?" Sanchez Amor continued his remarks as follows:

"The social model that the AK Party presents to Turkish society resembles the Russian model. A one-man rule, elections, more or less conservatism, a lack of checks and balances after elections, low parliamentary activity, the absence of media freedom, and pressure on all kinds of criticism..."

Opposition figures are being tried. Now it is İmamoğlu, but before him, many mayors from the DEM and CHP, journalists, lawyers, bar associations, medical chambers, students... Doesn't it really feel like this model is incompatible with a mature democracy? If you are not a mature democracy, you cannot be a member of the European Union. That is the reality."

SPOKE ABOUT THE DETENTION OF İMAMOĞLU

Describing the manner in which Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was detained as "a practice that would never be acceptable in a real democracy,"  Sanchez Amor said, "You send police to Imamoglu's house in the middle of the night, as if he were holding a bomb or a weapon. This is an attempt to criminalize him in the eyes of the public. In democracies, if a lawsuit is filed against someone, a summons is sent."

Referencing a quote attributed to former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Sanchez Amor stated, "'Democracy means that when there is a knock at the door at three in the morning, it is likely the milkman.' This is enough to describe the democratic regression in Turkey. This is the difference between democracy and Turkey."

"ALIGNMENT RATE AT THE LOWEST LEVEL"

Addressing the rhetoric frequently voiced in Turkey in recent years that "our military power will pave the way for membership," Nacho Sanchez Amor stated that the membership process cannot progress through strategic interests, but only through democratic reforms.

Reminding that Turkey's alignment rate with the EU on foreign policy issues has fallen to 5 percent, Sanchez Amor said, "This is the lowest level historically."

"MEMBERSHIP WAS OFFERED TO TURKEY BY THE EU"

Nacho Sanchez Amor recalled the latest Turkey report he prepared and published in May 2025, noting that membership had been offered to Turkey by the EU.

Amor stated the following:

"One of the points I included in my report is that Turkey was offered membership. If Turkey does everything correctly and advances the accession process, a veto based on some kind of cultural or religious identity cannot emerge at the end of the process. If it is believed that a Muslim-majority country cannot be an EU member, this should have been stated from the beginning. But if you have offered membership and the country fulfills the requirements, you cannot veto it at the end of the process for religious or demographic reasons."

"This idea concerns Turkey's theoretical compatibility with the EU, despite its size, majority religion, and distinct identity. Turkey's place in the European Union is like oxygen for us. This is a test of Europe's inclusivity and flexibility. The accession of such an important and beautiful country as Turkey is a gain for the European Union."

AFTER THE PKK DISSOLUTION PROCESS

Touching upon the PKK laying down its arms, Amor said:

"The anti-terror law targets the PKK, but it can be used against every segment of society. I view Öcalan's call and the PKK's decision to lay down arms positively. However, this law is used against many groups, such as students, mayors, and journalists."

"The PKK laying down its arms is a great hope. Perhaps a new peace process could emerge. However, these laws are applied to the entire society, and this is a major problem. If there is to be a peace process, the profile of the anti-terror law must change completely. If there is no longer a threat like the PKK, this law should not be used as an excuse to suppress other segments of society."

Stating that Turkey has fulfilled 66 of the 72 criteria required to obtain visa liberalization for Schengen countries and that there has been a long-standing impasse regarding the remaining 6 criteria,  "The real question is; why can't Turkey fulfill the 6 criteria? There isn't even a legislative proposal in Parliament to meet these criteria. Technical issues like the anti-terror law and data protection... Other countries have met the criteria; for example, Georgia received visa liberalization a few years ago. But on the Turkish side, they say, 'We have expectations.' This is not about expectations, it is about meeting the criteria," he stated.

"TURKEY IS RIGHT TO BE UPSET ABOUT THE VISA ISSUE"

Reiterating his call for European Union countries to work on improvements regarding visa facilitation, Sanchez Amor said, "Visa facilitation is a different matter. I and the European Parliament have been working for visa facilitation for years."

Stating that Turkey is right to be upset about the visa issue, Sanchez Amor spoke as follows:

"We are pressuring member states to facilitate this for business people, students, and families. It is very frustrating that Turkish students receive scholarships but cannot get visas. Since granting visas to Erasmus students is a national authority, this needs to be done by the member states. The Turkish public is right to be uncomfortable with this situation. We know that Turkish citizens are right that the laziness of our administration regarding visa facilitation is something we should criticize harshly."