IKV Chairperson Ayhan Zeytinoğlu stated that Türkiye-EU relations will also be affected by the second term of US President Donald Trump and that there is a favourable ground for taking new steps in relations. Chairperson Zeytinoğlu touched upon the consequences of the start of the second term of US President Trump and noted that factors such as the beginning of the post-Assad era in Syria and the ceasefire in Gaza should also be evaluated.

Chairperson Zeytinoğlu said the following:

“President Trump started his second term very quickly and issued critical decrees in his first days in office. Most of them concern US domestic politics. However, decisions such as the withdrawal from the World Health Organisation and the Paris Climate Agreement mean that in this new era, the US will not support, and may even sabotage, international organisations and structures, many of which the US is the architect of. For the EU, which attaches importance to international institutions and international agreements such as the Paris Climate Agreement and places them at the centre of its foreign policy, this situation will be quite challenging. A lonelier period awaits the EU, which values US leadership and is used to acting with the US. We expect the struggle between the US and China to escalate, especially in areas such as trade, new technologies and artificial intelligence. Steps such as Trump’s desire to take Greenland, which is under the sovereignty of Denmark, a NATO ally, are further eroding the UN-centred international order. The Taiwan issue may come back on the agenda and increase tensions between China and the US. In this turbulent and uncertain new era, the EU needs partners for European security, trade order and the resilience of international institutions. Otherwise, it will find it increasingly difficult to safeguard its interests between the unpredictable US pursuing unilateralist policies on the one hand, and an aggressive Russia and a rising China on the other.”

Chairperson Zeytinoğlu then evaluated the situation in Europe and mentioned the document entitled ‘Competitiveness Compass’ published on 29 January 2025:

“The recession in Europe and the pains of green and digital transformation have also created political instability. The elections in Germany in February and the future of the government in France are critical. The strengthening of extreme political movements will also affect EU policies. The ‘Competitiveness Compass’ announced by the European Commission on 29 January touches on the right issues such as further integration of the European market, closing the innovation gap of Europe, which lags behind the US and China, lowering energy prices, and channelling investments to more effective areas. However, the strengthening of populist movements in leading countries such as Germany and France are leading to an increase in protectionism and weakening the common European space. This fragments the EU’s common market order and makes it difficult for the EU to act together in the face of internal and external threats.”

IKV Chairperson Zeytinoğlu also touched upon Türkiye-EU relations and made suggestions on what can be done in this new period of significant changes and said the following:

“Under changing and challenging circumstances, it is crucial to update and develop Türkiye-EU relations in a multidimensional manner. Türkiye is already significantly harmonised with the European market through the customs union relationship. To the extent that it can adapt to green and digital transformations, it can be more effective in the EU market by increasing its competitiveness. Türkiye is also a candidate country. Although our accession process is currently frozen, it is important that a regional actor like Türkiye, which has an important industrial and agricultural sector, and distinguishes itself from its competitors with its dynamic private sector, continues to aim for EU membership despite all the problems. For Türkiye, deepening cooperation with the EU in the economic and political spheres could lead to greater resilience in today’s ambiguous global order. Efforts should be made to update the customs union and advance the candidature process.”

Finally, Chairperson Zeytinoğlu drew attention to the areas where progress can be made in Türkiye-EU relations and listed them as follows:

“Reactivating the Partnership Council, which was last convened in 2019, and utilising it to develop the partnership relationship,

Reinstatement of High Level Dialogue mechanisms such as the Association Council, which were suspended under EU sanctions, such as political, economic and transport,

Establishing a common agenda on issues such as green transformation and digital agenda, establishing a High Level Dialogue mechanism on climate as well as working groups at lower levels,

Accelerating efforts to resolve the problems in the customs union and aiming to overcome the existing obstacles in order to start negotiations on the modernisation of the customs union,

Take steps to revitalise the candidature process by making Türkiye’s EU reform agenda a priority again,

Enhancing foreign policy and security cooperation on geopolitical issues of common interest in the neighbourhood, such as Ukraine, Syria and Gaza,

Enhancing Türkiye’s participation in joint projects and missions under EU security and defence policy.”