European commission releases annual turkey progress report amid diplomatic tensions
On November 4, 2026, the European Commission released its annual progress report on Turkey, which strongly criticizes Ankara for failing to recognize the Republic of Cyprus and for its continued promotion of a two-state solution. The report urges Turkey to respect international law, sovereignty, and good neighborly relations, citing increased violations in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean. The Commission warns that future EU-Turkey relations remain contingent on the resolution of the Cyprus issue and calls for a halt to unilateral actions, such as those regarding Varosha and maritime agreements.
Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the report, describing it as biased and an unconditional adoption of Greek-Cypriot positions. Shortly after the report's release, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan conducted a visit to the occupied territories of northern Cyprus on November 6, 2026. During this trip, he met with local leaders, including Tufan Erhurman, Unal Ustel, and Tahsin Ertugruloglu, to discuss the Cyprus issue ahead of a planned tripartite meeting on November 9, 2026. The Cypriot government condemned the visit as an illegal provocation that undermines efforts to resume direct negotiations under UN auspices.