Erdogan turns back on EU membership bid
Influential voices in Turkey are worried about the impression that Turkey and the EU are drifting apart and what this will do to Turkey’s political reform process.
![A staff adjusts European Union and Turkish flags ahead of the arrival of Turkey's PM Erdogan at the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels A staff adjusts European Union and Turkish (L) flags ahead of the arrival of Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (not pictured) at the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels January 21, 2014. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir (BELGIUM - Tags: POLITICS) - RTX17NSQ](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2014/11/RTX17NSQ.jpg/RTX17NSQ.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=fQ7qUNDE)
Given the current turmoil along Turkey’s eastern borders, many have forgotten that Ankara is still technically vying for EU membership. This bid, however, remains in the doldrums due to a combination of factors involving Turkey and Europe.
At the beginning of the year, hopes were raised that the recent stagnation in Turkish-EU ties could be overcome. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, then prime minister, even said in January 2014 that the coming year would mark a historic turning point in ties.