By 2027 there should be around 14.2 billion euros in pre-accession aid for Turkey, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.
Turkey and six other countries with official prospects of joining the EU are to receive around 14.2 billion euros in so-called pre-accession aid by the end of 2027. The Council of EU Member States approved the funding on Tuesday. It was negotiated in June by the then Portuguese Presidency with representatives of the EU Parliament.
According to the Council, the EU funds are to be used for reforms that should pave the way for future EU membership. In addition to Turkey, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia are also planned as recipient countries. The council said the funds would be distributed depending on the reform efforts of the countries. Accession negotiations with Turkey have been on hold for several years because of setbacks.
The official approval of the European Parliament for the financing is expected in September. According to the agreement from June, however, it is considered a formality.
Erdoğan’s reform phase in the first few years after taking power in 2003 made it possible to start accession talks with the EU, but Turkey has been a candidate for EU membership since 2005. But the Cyprus problem, the flagging reform impetus in Ankara and, above all, the aversion of many EU states towards Turkey de facto brought the process to a standstill. The European Parliament had only proposed in May to officially suspend the negotiations, which were already idle, in view of the tense relations.
(APA/dpa/ed.)