A senior European Parliament figure has criticised remarks by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen suggesting Turkish influence could threaten Europe.
In a Tuesday social media post, Nacho Sánchez Amor, the European Parliament’s rapporteur on Türkiye, described the remarks as “geopolitically flawed.”
The assertion, he added, was “totally inconsistent with recurrent signals for stronger [EU–Türkiye] cooperation on security and defence.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made the comments on Sunday at an event in Hamburg organised by Germany’s Die Zeit newspaper.
Speaking at the event, von der Leyen declared that the European Union “must succeed in completing the European continent so that it is not influenced by Russia, Türkiye, or China.”
The remarks raised eyebrows in European policymaking circles, especially given Türkiye’s status as both a long-standing NATO member and an EU candidate country.
In recent years, Brussels and Ankara have maintained a complex relationship.
While they have cooperated on a range of shared challenges, including cross-border migration and trade, they remain at odds over several political and regional issues.
Yet despite these differences, Türkiye is widely viewed as a key partner by the 27-nation European bloc, particularly in managing migration flows and safeguarding NATO’s south-eastern flank.
Turkish officials, meanwhile, have yet to issue a formal response to von der Leyen’s remarks.
In an apparent effort to defuse tensions, an EU spokeswoman later clarified that von der Leyen’s reference to Türkiye was not intended as a direct comparison with either Russia or China.
Speaking to Bloomberg late on Tuesday, she said the comment reflected a recognition of Türkiye’s size and geopolitical standing in the region.
The spokeswoman stressed that Türkiye remains a key partner of the EU - politically and economically - and an “important” member of the NATO alliance.
U.S. President Donald Trump says Iran has a "last chance" to sign what he described as "a good document", claiming talks are continuing at Tehran's re...
...
Georgia has officially begun dredging works for the long-awaited Anaklia Deepwater Port after the arrival of the first dredging vessel, marking a sign...
A tourist aircraft crashed near Peru's UNESCO-listed Nazca Lines on Saturday (1 August), killing all 13 people on board, authorities said.
U.S. President Donald Trump says Iran has a "last chance" to sign what he described as "a good document", claiming talks are continuing at Tehran's request with backing from Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar.
U.S. President Donald Trump said late on Saturday he would hold off on a fresh attack on Iran as long as a deal could be reached quickly to halt Iran's nuclear ambitions and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Two firefighting helicopters collided while battling a major wildfire in Greece on Sunday, killing two crew members as emergency services continued efforts to contain fires fuelled by extreme heat and dry conditions across Europe.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said wildfires that swept across France were now under control. Authorities warned that risks remained as Greece and Spain continued battling active blazes across parts of Europe.
Georgia has officially begun dredging works for the long-awaited Anaklia Deepwater Port after the arrival of the first dredging vessel, marking a significant milestone in one of the country's most ambitious infrastructure projects.
Iran said on Monday (3 August) it is not negotiating with the U.S. over reopening the Strait of Hormuz, saying current talks with Oman are focused solely on ensuring safe shipping through the strategic waterway.
Pakistan and Uzbekistan are stepping up efforts to streamline trade between South and Central Asia through a new customs partnership focused on digital connectivity and artificial intelligence.
A suicide bomber killed at least 17 people and injured 35 others outside a police station in northwestern Pakistan on Sunday evening, officials said. The Pakistan Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in Kabal, a town in the Swat Valley near the Afghan border.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment