President Erdogan blames Cyprus issue for stalled EU membership

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated on May 4, 2026, that the Cyprus issue has been a primary factor in blocking Turkey's path toward European Union membership. He noted that while Turkey's association journey began in 1959 and formal negotiations were initiated in 2005, the process faced significant political obstacles. Erdogan compared Turkey's experience to Greece, which applied for membership in 1975 and joined in 1981. He further criticized the 2004 EU expansion for including the Republic of Cyprus, referring to it as the 'Greek Cypriot side of southern Cyprus.' Erdogan argued that Turkey fulfilled its obligations after the 2005 negotiations began but claimed that deeply rooted biases within European circles and political motivations consistently slowed the country's progress. He concluded by asserting that despite past injustices, Turkey has remained patient throughout the long accession process.