Turkey: President Erdogan says he wants to open a "new page" with the EU

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday, November 30, 2020 (illustrative image).

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he wants to open a "new page" with the European Union (EU).

This is what he assured, Friday, December 18, in a telephone interview with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

While Turkish maneuvers in the Eastern Mediterranean have strained Turkey-EU relations greatly in recent months, and while Ankara's membership application has not progressed for years, the Twenty-Seven are waiting for the Turkish President's statements to be made. followed by effects.

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With our correspondent in Istanbul,

Anne Andlauer

Since the end of November 2020, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been seeking appeasement with the European Union, at least with the Member States that he deems best disposed towards Ankara.

This is the case of Angela Merkel's Germany.

About ten days ago, the Chancellor opposed European leaders to heavily sanction Turkey for its search for gas in the Mediterranean.

A "positive agenda"

Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he wants a " 

new page

 " with the European Union.

He talks about recreating a “

 positive agenda 

”.

The term actually dates from 2012, when Ankara and Brussels tried - unsuccessfully - to relaunch accession negotiations which were already at a standstill.

The migration agreement signed in March 2016 had made it possible to renew the dialogue, but the repression that followed the attempted putsch in the summer of 2016 in Turkey had buried these efforts.

A difficult economic situation

Forced by a difficult economic situation, the Turkish president promised reforms, especially in the field of human rights.

But the opposition does not believe it and European leaders are waiting for action.

The release this week of businessman Osman Kavala, imprisoned for three years without conviction, would have been a strong signal.

Justice ultimately kept him in detention.

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See also: Turkish justice extends the detention of philanthropist Osman Kavala

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  • Turkey

  • European Union

  • Recep Tayyip Erdogan

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