Politics
Top EU official visits Türkiye for $236M projects, stronger partnership
EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said the European Union and Türkiye share strong ties that outweigh their differences, announcing that two projects each worth 100 million euros ($118 million) will be signed during her Feb. 5-6 visit to Ankara.
“There is really more that connects EU and Türkiye than what is dividing us, and we really should work on this,” she told Anadolu Agency (AA), stressing that “our economies are very much interdependent.”
Kos said she is “very much looking forward” to her first official visit to Türkiye, and explained that she had “intense contacts” with her Turkish counterparts “since the first day” of her mandate, especially with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
She asserted that her visit aligns with the approach of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who held talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with the aim of opening a new perspective in the relations.
“We are really living in challenging times. The world is changing around us. We are seeing the return of imperial behavior as China, Russia, and the U.S. are aggressively building their spheres of interest,” Kos said.
In the face of these geopolitical challenges, Kos urged strengthening cooperation, noting: “Our economies are very much interdependent. Whatever happens on the field of migration on each side is affecting the other side.”
Kos expressed hope that the Ukraine peace agreement would be signed soon to “change the realities in Europe and also especially in the Black Sea, where I see Türkiye as a very important partner already.”
Focusing on trust
Kos explained that she aims to foster trust during her visit as “trust is getting nowadays more and more important” while both in politics and business one needs partners “whom you can trust and build on.”
She described Türkiye as the “heart” of the EU’s Connectivity Strategy, a geopolitical approach aimed at establishing transport, energy, digital, and people-focused connections, seeking to “better Europe with Central Asia and turning this middle corridor into a very, very strong connection.”
“We can’t do this without Türkiye,” she asserted.
European Investment Bank
According to Kos, the Connectivity Strategy will allow much more for the EU and its partners “together in the Caucasus.”
“This is also why I’m very happy that the European Investment Bank (EIB) is coming back to Türkiye,” she said, referring to the multilateral financial institution owned by the EU’s 27 member states that provides funds for strategic projects.
“During my visit to Ankara, two projects, each worth of 100 million euros, will be signed as part of the re-engagement of the EIB, which wasn’t possible for some years,” she revealed.
She praised the EIB’s re-engagement as a result of the “high-level dialogue and economic discussions last year” that the “business community really, really loved to see.”
“Now it is happening,” she said, stressing that the two new renewable energy projects financed by the EIB “is now the start,” and the EU bank, as well as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the World Bank, would also play an important role in the future in new renewable energy and connectivity projects.
To support this agenda, Kos will meet with the minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, and Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar.
Impact of EU trade deals
Asked about the potential impact of recently signed trade deals with the South American trade bloc Mercosur and India on the EU’s customs union with Türkiye, Kos asserted that the agreement underpins the “attractiveness” of making a free trade agreement with the EU and its 450-million-strong market, despite “some people are doubting” the bloc’s geopolitical relevance.
She called the recent free trade deals “very important,” but emphasized that “the trade between the EU and Türkiye is almost twice as much as our trade with Mercosur.”
Kos urged to look at the “bigger picture in these uncertain times, when China, Russia and the U.S. are creating their spheres of interest.”
“It will be more and more important that we do business with reliable partners. There are many things we can do to improve the bilateral trade,” she noted, and explained that she had just received a letter from the Turkish business community, also published in the Financial Times, about the future of the EU-Türkiye economic relations.
“We should make much more out of this trading relation, including the improvement of the functioning of the customs union and removing some barriers we still have there,” she asserted.
Noting that “both sides should work on this” while there is a “clear will and possibility,” she promised to put all her “energy into moving on this.”
“We really shouldn’t miss this big chance which we have today, but it needs to be our common project and both sides have to deliver,” she added.
Admitting that the customs union with Türkiye has not been updated for 30 years, Kos mentioned that all political developments, and especially relations with the Greek Cypriot administration, can help to make progress in this area.
‘Made in Europe’ initiative
The “Made in Europe” initiative, which prioritizes European companies in public procurement in EU countries, is also “in principle a response to how the world of trade is also changing,” Kos revealed.
She explained that the rules set by the World Trade Organization have been increasingly eroded and trade dependencies are used as blackmail or a weapon, which the EU wants to prevent.
“We want to be sure that if we spend public money, it actually benefits the companies that choose to work in Europe or close to Europe, who want to innovate, who also want to invest and produce in Europe and in places we can trust. This is a matter of security,” she stressed.
She reminded that the work and discussions on the “Made in Europe” initiative are still in progress, and promised to “always defend that this economic logic should be aligned with our geopolitical logic, where we have to see who is our partner and with which partner we can get a better win-win situation out of this.”
“If we take together economic and geopolitical logic, this cannot exclude Türkiye,” Kos stated, adding that in order to participate in EU public procurements, first, the conditions enabling trade need to be “further developed.”
“We would love to see Türkiye involved deeper in some of our policies, but there are some conditions which have to be fulfilled,” she went on.
Kos said she would be meeting with Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek in Ankara, hailing that the EU and Türkiye had resumed high-level dialogues.
“Last year we had five: economy, trade, migration, security, research, innovation, agriculture,” she asserted.
“I would also be very happy if we would be able to do also the high-level dialogues on energy and transport. For the time being, it is not possible, but let’s move and see what we can do to make this possible,” she added.
She called for more trust, noting that “big changes will not come through the night until we are able to build trust.”
EU membership perspective
Asked about Türkiye’s EU membership perspective in the face of political obstacles, Kos acknowledged that “since 2018, there is a standstill in the negotiation or accession process” but underscored that the EU still “considers Türkiye as a candidate country.”
Acknowledging that they are “not starting from scratch,” Kos underlined that the latest EU enlargement reports on the progress of candidate countries had “seen steps away from EU standards, especially on the rule of law and democracy.”
“I know that Türkiye has a very long democratic tradition and also a strong civil society, and this is what we would like to strengthen, and this would build trust between the EU and Türkiye,” she underlined.
According to Kos, there are “immense possibilities” to be exploited within the 450-million-strong internal market of the EU and Türkiye’s over 80 million people.
“If we could put new energy into the development of the field of democracy, I think we could do really, really much more,” she asserted.
Kos described that the accession process is influenced by dynamics in the candidate countries and EU member states as well, and “we are engaging with our candidate countries, and the decision-making process is worked out together.”
“We know that any progress is connected to bilateral relations, not just Cyprus, but also with the Cyprus and the new Cyprus settlement talks. It is now a big opportunity to continue,” she added.
Defense cooperation
Asked about prospects of Türkiye’s contribution to the EU’s efforts in strengthening its defense industry and capabilities, Kos acknowledged Türkiye as a “very important, reliable NATO partner, the second-largest member in NATO, the institution that secured peace and security in the broader sense in Europe.”
“We also have seen how Turkish drones have been playing a decisive role at the beginning of the war in Ukraine. We have also seen the role Türkiye is playing in the war. For all of these reasons, Türkiye is a kind of natural partner for Europe, and it would be good both for us if we could work more together,” she added.
“Under certain conditions, Turkish companies can already cooperate, be part of our rearmament programs, if they have subsidies here in Europe,” she explained.
Kos also stressed: “Personally, I would like to really see strong involvement of stronger involvement of Türkiye in the security in Europe,” but warned that the development of EU security policy depends on member states.
“The new Cyprus settlement talks are a great opportunity for improvements also in this area,” she said, noting that Türkiye is “undisputably a really important NATO and security partner.”
Visa liberalization
Referring to the EU’s recently announced visa strategy, Kos underlined that due to last year’s high-level dialogue on migration, the EU could introduce the so-called cascade system, allowing Turkish citizens to more easily get multiple visas, and that “this is already showing the results.”
She highlighted that visa-free travel is one of the main topics in which she would like to see advancement, but warned that there are six conditions to be fulfilled.
Wowing to keep visa liberalization on the “high priority list” during her visit to Ankara, she explained that connectivity does not only mean “hard power in the sense of trade and transport and energy.”
“When I speak about the connectivity, I would also like to stress the connections between people,” Kos asserted.
Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş on Wednesday called for comprehensive reform across the Islamic world, stressing the need for stronger political, economic and institutional cooperation, while welcoming recent progress in negotiations between the United States and Iran.
During the 20th Conference of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Baku, Kurtulmuş said the Islamic world needs an “A-to-Z reform process,” stressing that reform should not mean abandoning Islamic values but rather reconnecting with them and adapting them to contemporary realities.
“I would like to underline that political, institutional and intellectual reforms are among the most fundamental issues facing Islamic countries,” he said.
He argued that the emerging global order presents significant opportunities for the Islamic world, citing its population of more than 2 billion people, 57 member states, natural resources and economic potential.
The official further called for greater unity and cooperation among Muslim countries, saying sectarian, ethnic and political differences should be viewed as a source of richness rather than conflict.
On regional issues, he welcomed what he described as positive developments in U.S.-Iran negotiations held in Switzerland.
“We appreciate that the negotiations between the U.S. and Iran have reached a positive point,” he said, adding: “We hope this agreement will be respected, the talks will continue positively until the end, and the war imposed on Iran will be permanently ended, paving the way for a genuine atmosphere of peace.”
He also stressed the importance of ending Israeli attacks in Lebanon, saying: “Lebanon belongs to the Lebanese and Palestine belongs to the Palestinians.”
Kurtulmuş further voiced support for ongoing peace negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, expressing hope that they would lead to a lasting settlement and contribute to long-term stability in the South Caucasus.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday he would “probably do something” that would make Türkiye happy, signaling a potential shift on Ankara’s requests for F-35 fighter jets and jet engines needed for its indigenous Kaan fighter aircraft program, ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara.
Speaking to reporters as he met NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the White House, Trump pointed to Türkiye’s NATO membership when asked whether he was going to Türkiye “with a big gift bag.”
“Look, he’s a member of NATO. Some people don’t consider himself (a NATO member), but he really is. He’s a strong member of NATO,” Trump said.
“Yeah, I’m going to probably do something that’s going to make him very happy,” he added.
Türkiye is getting ready to host NATO leaders at a summit in the capital Ankara on July 7-8.
Rutte, for his part, said Türkiye has a “huge” defense industrial base.
Trump replied: “People don’t know how big Türkiye is in terms of the military. It’s very strong. They have a lot of our equipment, a very strong military, because of him.”
Trump added that he likely would not have attended the summit had it not been hosted in Türkiye by President Erdoğan.
“I’m going out of respect to President Erdogan,” Trump said.
The engines, produced by General Electric, will power Türkiye’s first indigenous combat jet KAAN, a major project launched in 2016 as part of NATO member Ankara’s efforts to be more self-sufficient in its defense.
President Erdoğan had previously called Türkiye’s removal from the F-35 fighter jet program “unjust,” stressing that its reentry is key to NATO security. Ankara was excluded from the U.S.-led multinational program in 2019 over its purchase of Russian-made S-400 air defense systems. Ever since, it has repeatedly called the move unfair and voiced hope that the sides could overcome the issue during U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term.
Despite boasting NATO’s second-largest army, Türkiye often faced arms embargoes in the past. That pushed it to significantly boost domestic capabilities and curb foreign dependence over the last two decades.
Today, it produces a wide range of vehicles and arms types domestically, including its own drones, missiles and naval vessels. It’s also developing its own fifth-generation fighter jet.
Named Kaan, the stealth fighter is sought to replace the Air Force Command’s aging F-16 fleet, which is planned to be phased out starting in the 2030s.
Mayors of Seferihisar and Balçova districts of Türkiye’s third largest city Izmir were detained on Thursday in another operation against rampant corruption at municipalities run by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).
Seferihisar’s Ismail Yetişkin and Balçova’s Onur Yiğit were among 24 suspects detained on charges of corruption and bribery. This was the third wave of operations against alleged corruption at the Seferihisar municipality that led more detentions earlier. Other suspects include municipal staff and businesspeople.
Suspects alleged of taking and/or giving bribes for construction and zoning permits violating regulations and the evidence against them include suspicious cash flow on bank accounts, especially before March 2024 municipal elections.
Dozens of mayors and municipal bureaucrats from the CHP were detained or arrested in the past two years in investigations focusing on corruption. Majority of allegations involve bribery in return of construction permits which are otherwise subject to strict regulations, and rigging the lucrative tenders of municipalities.
Izmir is a stronghold of the CHP and is among cities most affected by what critics call poor management, especially in terms of financial resources of municipalities. Since the 2024 elections, the district municipalities of the city saw major strikes by employees complaining unpaid wages. Meanwhile, the city’s mayor Cemil Tugay recently announced his resignation from the party after the CHP’s former leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu was reinstated to office by a court verdict in a case of alleged vote-buying in a 2023 intra-party election.
Top figures of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) will convene in a retreat in the northwestern town of Sapanca between June 26 and June 28.
The 33rd Consultation and Assessment Convention, as it is formally known, will be an event where the parties’ chair, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and members of the administrative and executive boards will discuss the future policies and exchange ideas.
Such retreats have been a staple of the party in the past two decades, but mostly involved lengthy presentations by the party’s administrators. This time, the party decided to change the format in a more engaging manner, and the presentations will be replaced by discussions, media outlets reported.
The convention will begin with a screening of “Şule: Your Story,” a TV series about the life of late Şule Yüksel Şenler, an icon of Muslim women’s struggle. “Bir Adam Yaratmak” (“The Creation of A Man”), a big screen adaptation of a play by famed poet and playwright Necip Fazıl Kısakürek, will also be screened at the retreat. Erdoğan is expected to make an inauguration speech at the convention, which will continue with two sessions entitled “Party Policies” and “Common Mind.” At the first session, which will be attended by members of the central executive committee of the party, future goals of the AK Party will be assessed, along with a consultation on the “strategic vision” of the party, according to the party sources. The session aims to create a road map for the party, which will mark its 25th anniversary in August.
Throughout the retreat, lawmakers will inform ministers about requests, suggestions and demands of voters in their constituencies. The ministers will deliver briefings about their work.
Türkiye will mark the 10th anniversary of the defeated July 15, 2016 coup attempt with a nationwide series of commemorative events aimed at honoring those killed and injured while reinforcing public awareness of the events, organizers announced Thursday.
The July 15 Association unveiled the program during a press conference at the July 15 Memory Museum in Istanbul, saying activities will take place throughout July, with some projects continuing year-round.
Deputy Governor of Istanbul Mehmet Sülün said the commemorations are intended not only to remember the events of July 15 but also to preserve public memory for future generations.
“The purpose of these events is to honor our martyrs and remind society of the sacrifices made by our nation on that night,” Sülün said, adding that the program was prepared in coordination with the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications, public institutions and civil society organizations.
July 15 Association President Ismail Hakkı Turunç noted the lessons of the failed coup attempt should not be forgotten even a decade later.
“We cannot simply say it happened and move on,” Turunç stressed. “There are important lessons to be learned from this attack against our nation’s values and future.”
Turunç, who said he took part in the civilian resistance in Istanbul on the night of the coup attempt, recalled losing 13 friends in Saraçhane while 47 others were wounded. He reminded the resistance, in which 253 people were killed and nearly 2,800 were injured nationwide, represented a collective stand by the Turkish people.
Academic symposiums will be held in Istanbul and Ankara from July 9 to July 11, while Türkiye’s major suspension bridges, including the July 15 Martyrs Bridge and the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge, will be decorated with Turkish flags.
Other events include Quran recitations at Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, programs for the children of martyrs and veterans, blood donation campaigns, public exhibitions, memorial runs, cycling and motorcycle tours, and a flotilla of 253 boats in the Marmara Sea.
On July 15, commemorations will culminate with an official ceremony in Istanbul’s Saraçhane district, alongside projection mapping displays at Galata Tower and the Maiden’s Tower.
Organizers said additional projects, including traveling exhibitions, public discussions and educational initiatives, will continue throughout the year to preserve the memory of the failed coup attempt.
Türkiye’s Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK) has removed 62 former judges and prosecutors from their positions over their roles in the investigation and prosecution of the Ergenekon case, a move that also clears the way for the Treasury to seek reimbursement of compensation previously paid to victims following court rulings.
The decision, issued by the HSK’s Second Chamber, concerns judicial officials who served during various stages of the Ergenekon investigation and trial. Most of those named had already been dismissed from the judiciary after the failed July 15, 2016 coup attempt over alleged links to the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ), which Ankara blames for orchestrating the coup attempt.
According to the disciplinary ruling, the chamber imposed a total of 230 dismissal sanctions involving 62 former judges and prosecutors. Proceedings against two individuals were terminated due to their deaths.
Among those listed in the decision are former prosecutor Zekeriya Öz and former prosecutor Fikret Seçen, both of whom were key figures during the Ergenekon investigations.
The Ergenekon case began in 2007 after weapons were discovered in Istanbul’s Ümraniye district and eventually led to the prosecution of hundreds of military officers, journalists, academics and other public figures accused of belonging to an alleged clandestine network plotting to overthrow the government.
Following the failed coup attempt in 2016, Turkish authorities reassessed many of the investigations and trials carried out by members of FETÖ’s network within the judiciary. Officials have since argued that the Ergenekon proceedings were part of a broader effort by the terrorist group to remove senior military personnel and expand its influence within state institutions.
The HSK said disciplinary complaints related to the Ergenekon proceedings had remained pending for years while criminal investigations continued. The chamber decided to proceed with disciplinary action without waiting for the conclusion of all criminal proceedings, citing the requirements of disciplinary law and the need to protect public confidence in the judiciary.
The ruling is also expected to have financial consequences.
The HSK authorized the state to seek recourse against those held responsible for compensation payments made by the Treasury after rulings by the Constitutional Court and other courts found rights violations in relation to the Ergenekon proceedings. The decision opens the possibility of recovering compensation already paid by the state from the former judicial officials concerned.
The disciplinary sanctions vary among those named in the ruling.
Former Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court President Hasan Hüseyin Özese received 19 dismissal sanctions, while Sedat Sami Haşıloğlu received 17 and Hüsnü Çalmuk 16. Former prosecutor Zekeriya Öz received 13 sanctions, while Mehmet Ali Pekgüzel and Ercan Fırat each received 12. Several other former judges and prosecutors received multiple dismissal sanctions, bringing the total number of disciplinary penalties to 230.
The ruling marks one of the most extensive disciplinary decisions taken in connection with the Ergenekon proceedings and represents another step in Türkiye’s continuing efforts to address alleged FETÖ influence within the judiciary following the 2016 coup attempt.
Justice Minister and HSK President Akın Gürlek repeatedly pledged to continue efforts to eliminate illegal structures within the judiciary and strengthen public confidence in the judicial system. The latest ruling is being viewed by judicial observers as one of the most comprehensive disciplinary measures related to the Ergenekon case since the aftermath of the failed coup.
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