In a significant diplomatic response, the Turkish Foreign Ministry publicly rejected the European Commission’s 2024 Enlargement Strategy and Country Report regarding Türkiye, asserting that the assessments made in the report are unfair and fail to reflect the realities on the ground.

The report, released on Wednesday, has sparked a fresh wave of controversy, particularly around its evaluation of Türkiye’s political criteria and internal dynamics.

In the official statement, the Foreign Ministry expressed disappointment over what it termed the “unrealistic and unlawful” views articulated in the EU report, particularly regarding the complex issues surrounding the Cyprus question.

The ministry criticized the report for leaning heavily toward the positions of Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration, which Türkiye argues overlook its legitimate concerns and rights, as well as those of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

Turkish officials highlighted the report’s recognition of Türkiye’s constructive role in the Eastern Mediterranean and its positive relations with Greece.

Yet, they contend that these achievements are undermined by the report’s failure to account for Türkiye’s legitimate security concerns, particularly in the context of the Cyprus dispute, which they argue should be resolved solely through negotiations involving the parties directly involved on the island.

The Foreign Ministry emphasized that the EU’s statements regarding Cyprus are not conducive to settlement efforts.

It underscored that the issue must be addressed within the framework of a negotiation process involving the two communities on the island, the three guarantor powers and the United Nations.