Turkey set to focus on EU membership

By Nathan Morley

The Turkish President has said dialogue is needed to promote Turkey's accession to the European Union.

President Tayipp Erdogan has been speaking about the necessity of promoting dialogue for Turkey's accession to the European Union.

Ankara opened talks on the issue with Brussels 18-years-ago, but they have been at a virtual standstill for a long time.

Now though, Mr. Erdogan insists it is necessary to increase contacts at all levels in the direction of Turkey's full membership to the EU - which he said, has 'great strategic value for Europe'.

During a phone conversation with Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, Erdogan underlined the importance of updating the customs union agreement between Ankara and Brussels and strengthening bilateral cooperation on migration and counterterrorism.

Re-elected in May

Since winning re-election on May 28, Mr. Erdogan has had his plate full.

Earlier this week, he vowed to submit a new proposal for amending the constitution to the parliament. His ruling AKP party has been working on a draft charter since 2022.

The current constitution, introduced nearly forty years ago, has been amended 19 times since 1982.

Separately, new figures show Turkey's annual inflation slowed to 39.59 percent in May, the lowest level since December 2021. 

However,  the Turkish currency hit an all-time low against the U.S. dollar this week. The new Finance Minister has vowed to fight inflation and restore investor confidence.