EU Commission stalls Turkey customs union upgrade pending good‑neighbor compliance

The European Commission answered a written question from Greek MEP Nikos Farantouris, stating that any further modernisation of the EU‑Turkey customs union is on hold until Turkey demonstrably respects the EU’s “good neighbour” principle. The Commission linked progress to Turkey’s conduct in the Cyprus dispute, its impact on stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, and compliance with international law.

Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said that a stable and secure environment in the region is a strategic interest of the EU and that Turkey must commit unequivocally to good‑neighbour relations, peaceful dispute settlement and the relevant international agreements before customs‑union talks can resume. The response also referenced the 2023 joint EU‑Turkey statement, which stressed that the customs‑union update requires a broader environment conducive to resolving the Cyprus issue.

The statement marks the first time the Commission formally tied customs‑union negotiations to Turkey’s regional behaviour, signalling that trade and broader EU‑Turkey relations cannot progress in isolation from the Cyprus problem and regional security concerns.