Changes between two versions
What changed between the draft committee report and the plenary report
AI:What changed, in short
The report adds extensive new recitals and paragraphs detailing human rights abuses, judicial independence issues, and democratic backsliding in Türkiye.1234 It expands sections on economic, migration, and foreign policy cooperation, including Cyprus, Russia sanctions, and regional security.12131415 It strengthens conditionality for resuming accession talks and calls for concrete measures from Turkish authorities.1617 The only formal change updates the forwarding instructions for the resolution.18
17 changes of substance · 1 formal · 0 of wording only
Written by AI from the two texts only · read the changes before relying on it · 4 Sept 2026 · Report a problem
+91 added · −34 removed · 15 changed paragraphs, packaging included.
Part 4 of 4: EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
This is the second report in this legislature on the progress of Türkiye as a candidate country to the EU. The report evaluates the state of play and latest developments with regard to Türkiye’s accession progress and also the broader relations between the EU and the country. Accession negotiations with Türkiye have remained at a standstill since 2018, in line with the European Council Conclusions. The report argues that, despite the Turkish Government’s recent statements on its commitment to the EU membership, the gap between Türkiye and the EU’s values and normative framework – which are at the core of the accession process – has remained unaddressed during the last period with persisting laws and measures aimed at curtailing the rule of law and fundamental rights. The report calls once again to put an end to the constant attacks on the rights of members of the opposition, denouncing in particular the situation of the CHP and its presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu, human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists, artists, academics and civil society activists, among others. The report is highly critical with the silence of other EU institutions and many EU Member States, in the face of the erosion of the rule of law in Türkiye, urging them to be more vocal in this regard. As a conclusion, given the lack of improvements by the Turkish authorities with regard to the democratic backsliding in the country, the report expresses that the Parliament has no other option but to reiterate that Türkiye’s EU accession process cannot be resumed in the current circumstances. The text urges the Turkish Government and the European Union’s institutions and Member States to keep working, beyond the currently frozen accession process, towards a closer, more dynamic and strategic partnership.