On 9 June 2026, the European Parliament published amendments to the draft annual report on Türkiye, tabled by the Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN) group. The two amendments introduce a positive assessment of Türkiye-Armenia rapprochement and a serious allegation of financial mismanagement in the Erasmus+ programme.
Amendment 17 welcomes the May 2026 memorandum of understanding between Türkiye and Armenia to restore the Ani Bridge, as well as Türkiye's removal of a restriction on direct trade with Armenia. The text frames these as "important steps towards the establishment of full and normalised relations." This is a constructive addition that endorses a specific bilateral confidence-building measure.
Amendment 18 expresses concern that "millions of euro awarded under the Erasmus+ programme have been redirected towards foundations and associations with an Islamist agenda." This is a significant allegation of financial impropriety and mission drift within a flagship EU programme, calling for scrutiny and potential corrective action.
No other political group submitted amendments to this report, so the ESN's proposals stand alone. The amendments target two distinct policy areas: foreign policy normalisation and financial oversight. The Erasmus+ allegation is likely to be the most contested, as it directly challenges the integrity of a core EU initiative.
The report, drafted by Nacho Sánchez Amor, is scheduled for a plenary vote later in the parliamentary session. The ESN amendments will be debated and voted on alongside the main text. If adopted, they would add new paragraphs to the final resolution, shaping the Parliament's official position on EU-Türkiye relations.
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