EU commissioner Marta Kos says Turkey's crackdown on LGBT rights and press pushes it further from EU membership
Marta Kos made the remarks in Edirne on Friday, 9 October, during an official visit near the Bulgarian border. She said the Commission's enlargement report, due on 28 October, will reflect its serious concerns.
Warning from Brussels
Marta Kos, the EU commissioner for enlargement, said on Friday, 9 October, in Edirne in north-western Turkey, near the border with Bulgaria, that repression of the political opposition, the press and the LGBT community pushes Ankara further from EU accession. Speaking during an official visit, she said recent events affecting media freedom, LGBT rights and democracy widen the gap between Turkey and its goal of joining the bloc. Kos said the next enlargement report, due on 28 October, would reflect the Commission's serious concerns in these areas. The Turkish government had not immediately responded to her remarks.
Recent events affecting media freedom, LGBT rights and democracy further deepen the gap with Turkey's goal of joining the EU.
Kos added that the report would be published on 28 October and that she would not avoid announcing the facts publicly and clearly.
Our next enlargement report, which will be published on 28 October, will reflect our serious concerns in these areas. And I will not shy away from my obligation to announce the facts publicly and clearly.
The "My family is safe" campaign
According to the sources, a crackdown on the LGBT community began in mid-September under a campaign titled "My family is safe". It has involved numerous arrests and the closure of social media accounts belonging to activists. Journalists have also been arrested, as have opposition mayors in various cases. The government has promised to continue the campaign despite protests from the EU and international NGOs.
Last week a Turkish court ordered access to the website and social media accounts of the independent portal T24 blocked. Authorities said the outlet had published 118 items over the past year that constitute "LGBTQ propaganda". The decision was taken within the same investigation. Turkish authorities justify the measures as protecting children and family values, while human rights organizations have criticized them.
- Crackdown on the LGBT community begins under the 'My family is safe' campaign
- Turkish court orders access to T24 website and social media accounts blocked
- Marta Kos says recent events deepen the gap with Turkey's EU accession goal
- EU enlargement report due to be published
Stalled accession talks
Turkey has held candidate status since 1999, and accession negotiations, opened in 2005, have been frozen for years. The main obstacles include the rule of law, human rights, minority rights and press freedom. Erdogan said in August that EU membership is no longer a priority for Ankara, although Turkey has not formally withdrawn its candidacy. Brussels wants Ankara to authorize new negotiations under UN auspices, a proposal Erdogan rejected in 2024 while calling for international recognition of a two-state solution.
Cyprus and practical cooperation
The EU also condemns Turkey's position on divided Cyprus, where in 1983 the Turkish-controlled part declared itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Ankara. Kos said cooperation with Turkey is gaining importance amid changing geopolitics and stressed that good relations with neighbouring EU member states matter. Ankara has asked for an update of the customs union with the EU and wants to join the SAFE defence investment instrument and the SEPA euro payments area. Kos spoke at the inauguration of an EU-funded rail project in Edirne during the same visit.
