The EU has sent a strong message regarding the arrest and imprisonment of Ekrem İmamoğlu and the way the Turkish government and police handle protest gatherings and demonstrations in support of the former mayor of Istanbul. Specifically, the Commission announced today (02.04.2025) that due to recent troubling developments in Turkey, particularly the detention of İmamoğlu, there is a need to carefully reassess the EU’s commitments towards Ankara. In this context, the Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, canceled her planned visit to Turkey and her meeting with the Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan. Kos stated that the reason for canceling her trip was the latest developments in Turkey. A spokesperson for the European Commission explained: “After recent concerning developments, we must carefully reevaluate our commitment while keeping channels open to discuss mutual interests, as Turkey remains a strategic partner. We will continue addressing issues related to the rule of law and aim for Turkey to align with European values.” Despite these events, high-level dialogues with Turkey on economic and migration matters are still scheduled to proceed as planned.