Turkey Report 2025: the rule of law and the opposition

The resolution responds to the European Commission’s 2025 Annual Report on Turkey. It is non-legislative: it does not amend EU law, but expresses a political stance towards a candidate country. The rapporteur was Nacho Sánchez Amor (S&D). It was adopted with 381 votes in favour, 107 against and 171 MEPs abstaining.

The EPP, S&D, Renew and Greens/EFA – that is, the pro-European majority – voted in favour. The S&D group cast 122 votes in favour, 1 against and 2 abstentions; Renew cast 65 votes in favour, 1 against and 3 abstentions; and the Greens/EFA cast all 45 of their votes in favour. The EPP had 138 votes in favour and none against, but 32 of its MEPs abstained. These were mainly from the Polish Civic Coalition (KO, 19 MEPs), followed by five MEPs from the French Republicans, two each from the Polish PSL and the Cypriot DISY, two Polish independents, and one each from the Slovak KDH and the Bulgarian SDS.

The ECR, PfE and ESN – that is, the far right – did not vote as a bloc. The PfE voted against (60 against, 17 abstentions, none in favour), whilst the ESN voted against with all 26 of its members. Almost the entire ECR abstained: 68 abstentions, 5 votes against and 3 in favour. The Left, i.e. the far left, mostly abstained (38 abstentions, 5 in favour).

The shadow rapporteurs from the EPP, Renew and Greens/EFA took the floor during the debate. Isabel Wiseler-Lima (EPP) cited the cancelled CHP congresses and the imprisonment of Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, concluding: “These are not isolated incidents; this is a trend” (translated from French). Malik Azmani (Renew) highlighted the erosion of fundamental rights, the pressure on civil society and opposition leaders in prison (from English). Vladimir Prebilič (Greens/EFA) said that Atatürk’s state “has become a country of political trials reminiscent of the darkest periods of European history” (translated from Slovenian). Dario Nardella (S&D) called on the European Commission to impose sanctions on the Turkish Minister of Justice.

The resolution notes a further serious deterioration in the rule of law and fundamental rights in Turkey, a trend which is pushing the country towards an authoritarian model. It regards the continuing inaction as a clear sign of a lack of genuine political will on the part of the Turkish government to implement reforms. According to the resolution, the accession process cannot continue without tangible progress.

The text once again strongly condemns the continued detention of Ekrem İmamoğlu and firmly rejects the decision of the Ankara Regional Court of 21 May 2026, which overturned the decisions of the CHP congresses and reinstated the former party leader in place of Chairman Özgür Özel; it regards this as a clear example of state interference in the internal affairs of the largest opposition party. It expresses its deep regret that the Turkish Government has taken control of the TELE1 television station, which it regards as a deliberate attack on media freedom.

It once again calls on the EU High Representative to consider sanctions, including the freezing of assets, against Turkish officials responsible for serious and deliberate human rights violations, such as the former Chief Public Prosecutor of Istanbul, Akın Gürlek. It expresses horror at his recent appointment as Minister of Justice. The text also expresses grave concern that Turkey continues to formally threaten Greece with war should Greece exercise its lawful right to extend its territorial waters.