Ankara -  Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, in a joint press conference with EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi in Ankara, emphasized his country's determination to join the European Union and called upon the 27-member bloc to take bold measures to advance Turkey's membership bid. This meeting took place as Turkey seeks to mend its strained relations with the EU.

Fidan stated, "The European Union cannot be a truly global actor without Turkey. It is essential to clear the path for Turkey's EU membership and rejuvenate the membership perspective."

He further expressed, "Our expectation is that they demonstrate the determination required to enhance our relations and exhibit greater courage in their actions."

Turkey, geographically spanning Europe and Asia, gained candidacy for EU membership in 1999 and initiated membership negotiations in 2005. However, these negotiations stalled in 2018 due to concerns about Turkey's democratic regression, erosion of the rule of law under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and disputes with EU member Cyprus. Additionally, some within the EU are hesitant about admitting Turkey, a predominantly Muslim country with a large population.

Turkey's renewed efforts to engage with the European Union coincide with its struggling economy. The Turkish lira has depreciated against the dollar and other currencies, and high inflation has placed a burden on households struggling to afford basic necessities.

EU Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi urged Turkey to undertake democratic reforms, stating, "The accession negotiations are at a standstill. To restart them, the European Council has established clear criteria related to democracy and the rule of law that need to be addressed."

He added, "A credible roadmap for these reforms could certainly initiate a new discussion among EU leaders, who have the authority to change the current status quo."

In a positive development, Fidan announced that Turkish and EU officials would initiate discussions about potentially upgrading the customs union between Turkey and the EU, which has been in place since 1995.

Both sides also agreed on the necessity of initiating talks to ease visa restrictions for Turkish businesspeople and students traveling to EU countries.