Turkish FM Fidan presses for EU progress at OSCE meeting in Vienna

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan participated in a major European security forum on Thursday, using the platform to advance Türkiye's diplomatic priorities on both regional conflict and its longstanding bid for European Union membership. Fidan addressed fellow ministers at the 32nd Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), held in Vienna, Austria. The high-level gathering provided a key venue for discussions on the Russia-Ukraine war and broader Euro-Atlantic security.

Bilateral talks focus on Ukraine and EU accession

On the sidelines of the main OSCE event, Minister Fidan held a detailed meeting with his Austrian counterpart, Beate Meinl-Reisinger. Diplomats reported that the two officials reviewed recent developments in negotiations aimed at ending the protracted war between Russia and Ukraine, a conflict where Türkiye has consistently positioned itself as a neutral mediator. The conversation also turned to the state of Türkiye-EU relations, a perennial topic of strategic importance for Ankara.

Türkiye's clear message on strategic EU objective

During the discussion, Foreign Minister Fidan delivered a clear and reiterated message regarding Türkiye's European aspirations. He underscored that full membership in the European Union remains a fundamental strategic objective for the country. Furthermore, Fidan conveyed Ankara's expectation that the EU should take concrete steps to reinvigorate the accession process by opening new chapters for negotiation. This call reflects Türkiye's frustration with what it views as a prolonged stalemate in its EU bid, despite fulfilling numerous technical criteria.

The OSCE context and Türkiye's regional role

Fidan's attendance at the OSCE Ministerial Council underscores Türkiye's active and multifaceted role within European security structures. As a founding OSCE member and a NATO ally, Türkiye engages deeply on issues from conflict prevention to arms control. The Vienna meeting offered an opportunity to align positions with key partners on the Ukraine conflict, a top security concern for the continent. For a conservative publication like Yeni Şafak, Fidan's diplomacy highlights Türkiye's agency and insistence on being treated as an equal, indispensable partner in addressing both regional crises and the future architecture of European security and integration.