Turkey’s chances of joining the European Union were revived yesterday after a U-turn by Angela Merkel, ending German opposition to membership as a quid pro quo for help in containing the surge of migrants from Syria.
Mrs Merkel, who has been criticised for bolstering President Erdogan by visiting Ankara two weeks before the Turkish general election, promised that Germany would help to advance the process of Turkey joining the EU.
Senior Turkish politicians have long wanted to join in 2023, the centenary of the modern republic, but talks had been stuck for a decade because of resistance from France and Germany, partly over the country’s human rights record.
Mrs Merkel met Mr Erdogan last night for talks to press home a list of EU promises