On 9 June 2026, the European Parliament's ESN Group tabled a set of amendments to the draft annual report on Türkiye (A10-0106/2026) that would fundamentally alter the Parliament's stance, proposing to end EU accession negotiations and replace them with a formal strategic partnership. The amendments challenge the mainstream critical approach to Türkiye's democratic backsliding, instead advocating for pragmatic cooperation on security, migration, and trade.
The amendments, the only ones tabled on the report, represent a clear break from the consensus likely held by the EPP, S&D, Renew, and Greens/EFA groups. The most radical proposal is to close accession talks, citing the EUR 10 billion in pre-accession aid received by Türkiye and arguing that a strategic partnership would better serve both sides. This contrasts with the original draft's position of maintaining candidate status despite stagnation.
On human rights, the ESN seeks to replace condemnation with cultural relativism. Criticism of LGBTI+ rights is replaced by a note on Türkiye's "culturally and socially conservative" character, justifying the ban on Istanbul Pride. Language on women's rights is softened from "urges" to "encourages," removing urgency. The amendments also reverse the narrative on refugees: instead of concern over the protection environment for Syrian refugees, they praise Türkiye's policy of facilitating returns after the fall of the Assad regime. A new paragraph accuses Türkiye of using migration flows as a tool of "geopolitical pressure" on the EU.
On security, the ESN introduces language highlighting Türkiye's role as a major drone producer and its growing industrial partnerships with EU firms, as well as its "strategic importance" as a key partner for EU security in the context of the Ukraine war. A new critique targets the Turkish religious authority Diyanet for a "new global religious strategy" to recruit and train young diaspora members in Europe, raising sovereignty concerns absent from the original text.
The amendments are expected to be debated and voted on in plenary. The final report will feed into the EU's broader policy towards Türkiye, including the Council's position on accession negotiations and the Commission's annual enlargement package.