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REPORT (2025/2256(INI))

On the 2025 Commission report on Türkiye

A-10-2026-0106

Committee on Foreign Affairs · Rapporteur: Nacho Sánchez Amor

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 4 Sept 2026

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This resolution on the 2025 Commission report on Türkiye says the EU accession process cannot resume without real progress on democracy, rule of law and human rights, and urges Türkiye to implement reforms. It condemns the erosion of judicial independence, media freedom and local democracy, including the arrests of opposition mayors and the detention of Ekrem İmamoğlu, and calls for the release of arbitrarily detained people. It calls for EU sanctions against Turkish officials responsible for human rights violations, and for the EU to be more vocal in addressing democratic backsliding. It supports cooperation with Türkiye in areas of mutual interest, such as trade, migration and security, in a phased, proportionate and reversible manner, but insists on conditionality linked to human rights and good neighbourly relations. It urges Türkiye to respect the sovereignty of EU member states, including Greece and Cyprus, and to return to UN-framed negotiations on Cyprus.

Committee position. The Committee on Foreign Affairs proposes a resolution that condemns democratic backsliding in Türkiye, says the accession process cannot resume, and calls for continued engagement in areas of mutual interest.

Key points

  1. Reaffirms Türkiye's candidate status but says the accession process cannot resume without tangible progress on rule of law and democracy.
  2. Calls on the Turkish government to strengthen judicial independence, protect journalists and end politically motivated trials.
  3. Deplores the lack of judicial independence and the use of double standards, and calls for an end to secret witnesses and politically motivated prosecutions.
  4. Condemns the continued detention of Selahattin Demirtaş, Figen Yüksekdağ and Osman Kavala despite ECtHR rulings, and calls for their immediate release.
  5. Condemns the arrests and dismissals of 28 opposition mayors and the replacement of 11 with government-appointed trustees, urging respect for local democracy.
  6. Condemns harassment of lawyers, journalists and media, including the seizure of TELE1, and calls for the release of unjustly detained journalists.
  7. Urges Türkiye to protect women's rights, reverse its withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, and stop targeting LGBTI+ people.
  8. Calls for EU restrictive measures against Turkish officials responsible for human rights violations, including those involved in the trustee system.
  9. Supports the 'Terror-free Türkiye' initiative but urges reforms to protect Kurdish rights and prevent misuse of anti-terror laws.
  10. Calls on Türkiye to respect the sovereignty of EU member states, including Greece and Cyprus, and to resume Cyprus negotiations on the agreed UN basis.
  11. Regrets Türkiye's low alignment with EU foreign policy (4% in 2025) and urges alignment with sanctions against Russia and Iran.
  12. Calls for modernisation of the customs union with strong conditionality on human rights and good neighbourly relations, and for progress on visa liberalisation benchmarks.

Who is affected

  • Turkish authorities and judiciary: must implement reforms, release detainees, and respect fundamental rights.
  • Opposition politicians, mayors, journalists, lawyers, and activists in Türkiye: face repression; resolution calls for their protection and release.
  • EU institutions and member states: urged to be more vocal and consider sanctions against Turkish officials.
  • Turkish civil society and pro-democracy groups: should receive increased EU political and financial support.
  • Refugees in Türkiye: EU funding should continue to support their healthcare, education and integration.

Figures and deadlines

  • 28 mayors from opposition parties arrested and removed from office; 11 replaced with trustees.
  • Around 800 files pending before the GNAT requesting lifting of parliamentary immunity.
  • Türkiye ranked 159th out of 180 countries for press freedom in 2025.
  • Türkiye's prison population reached 433,543 inmates as at 2 December 2025.
  • EU has provided close to EUR 12.5 billion for refugees in Türkiye since 2011.
  • Türkiye's alignment with EU foreign policy fell to 4% in 2025, from 6% in 2024.
  • EU-Türkiye trade valued at over EUR 210 billion in 2024.
  • Türkiye hosts around 2.7 million refugees, including 2.3 million Syrians, as at January 2026.