Writing in Cumhuriyet, veteran columnist Mumtaz Soysal argues that EU officials are pressuring Ankara to change its position on ports and airspace access before a Dec. 14-15 summit, warning of serious consequences if Türkiye does not comply quickly.
Soysal contends that Brussels feels emboldened to apply this pressure because past Turkish governments signaled that EU membership was indispensable, creating the impression that Ankara would never voluntarily leave the negotiating table.
Rather than seeking a temporary pause in accession talks, which he says would still require EU approval and invite new conditions, Soysal calls on Ankara to withdraw from the process unilaterally and on its own terms. He argues that a clean break would force EU leaders to reassess their approach and adopt a more transparent position.
The columnist also urges Türkiye to use any resulting interval to reconsider the value of membership, including whether accepting the Customs Union was wise and whether remaining reforms could be pursued independently rather than under external pressure.
On economic concerns, Soysal dismisses fears that exiting the talks would destabilize markets or deter foreign investment, suggesting such a moment could instead prompt a healthier reassessment of Türkiye's economic assumptions and strengthen national confidence.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in November 2006, in its own words.