A highly critical European Commission progress report on Turkey citing a continued deterioration of democratic standards, rule of law, judicial independence and respect for fundamental rights in that country generated an expected and unapologetic response by Ankara, while Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan attempted to deflect the report’s “laundry list” of problems plaguing the country’s relations with neighbors, EU member-states Greece and Cyprus included.

The report more-or-less confirms that Turkey’s long-standing EU accession process is frozen, despite the country being the bloc’s fifth-largest trading partner in 2024.

Speaking to his ruling AKP party’s parliamentary group on Wednesday, the long-time Turkish leader claimed that sovereignty and sovereign rights of Turkey’s neighbors are not “in our sights”, while first beginning his address by referring to Iraq and Syria. The reference, however, appeared in the form of a “general assurance”.

The Commission reported cited the positive developments in Greek-Turkish relations but also detailed a series of provocations by the Turkish side and continued intransigence over maritime issues in the Aegean, the eastern Mediterranean and the long-standing Turkish occupation of one-third of Cyprus’ territory.

Among others, the authoritarian-leaning Erdogan expressed surprise with concerns that Eurofighter “Typhoon” warplanes sought by Turkey could be “used against our neighbors”, i.e. Greece, only a few years after a then saber-rattling Turkish leadership warned that we “may come suddenly one night”.

“Once again, I must emphasize that we have never, under any circumstances, had any designs on the territories, sovereignty, or subterranean and surface resources of other countries. We respect the sovereign rights of all friendly countries, especially our neighbors. Our soldiers, within the framework of international law, have been a guarantee of peace, security, and stability in every region where they have been present. God willing, the Turkish armed forces will continue to defend peace, solidarity, and brotherhood wherever they are…those who refer to dictatorship, one-man rule and authoritarianism are talking nonsense… The people vote freely. Those who were born when we came to power are now 23 years old.”

The EU Commission report

In a livid reaction, Turkey’s foreign ministry issued a two-page response, saying the Commission report, among many others, contained “… biased, prejudiced, and baseless allegations regarding the judiciary, fundamental rights, and domestic political developments in Türkiye …(which)… are categorically rejected.”