Answer given by Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission
10.3.2021
On 26 June 2018[1], the Council concluded that Turkey has been moving further away from the EU, and Turkey’s accession negotiations have therefore effectively come to a standstill and no further chapters can be considered for opening or closing. This was reaffirmed by the Council on 18 June 2019[2]. It also concluded that Turkey remains a candidate country and a key partner in many areas.
Within this framework, the Commission continues to support political and economic reforms in Turkey with financial and technical assistance through the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA). Nevertheless, considering the serious backsliding on reforms required to prepare for accession to the EU, financial assistance, through IPA, has been drastically cut for the period 2014-2020.
Furthermore, the Commission has substantially reoriented EU funds in order to prioritise key sectors such as democracy and governance, civil society and the rule of law and fundamental rights, specifically to support Turkish citizens and non-governmental organisations that are defending universal and European values.
Comprehensive budgetary implications of enlargements are subject to analysis and negotiations and have yet to be carried out.
Any calculation of potential costs of a Turkish accession would have to make precise assumptions regarding a number of key factors, including the expected accession date and Turkey’s future contributions to the EU budget. Currently, such assumptions would have to be highly arbitrary.
The Treaty on European Union states that any European state, which respects the values of the Union and is committed to promoting them, may apply to become a member of the Union.