European leaders, faced with an escalating refugee crisis, agreed last month to pursue a joint action plan, which demanded that Turkey help stem the tide of migrants into Europe, in exchange for EU funds, visa liberalization, and, most relevant, renewed negotiations on Turkey’s EU accession. Shortly after that decision, German Chancellor Angela Merkel reversed her previous opposition to Turkish membership in the EU, calling it an “open-ended issue” during a visit to Istanbul.
巴黎袭击发生前，埃尔多安似乎掌握着双边关系的所有主动权。欧洲领导人面对不断升级的难民危机，上个月同意执行一项联合行动方案。该方案要求土耳其协助阻止涌入欧洲的难民潮，以换取欧盟资金、开放签证，还有最重要的，重启土耳其加入欧盟的谈判。这项决策做出后不久，德国总理默克尔改变了之前反对土耳其加入欧盟的态度，在出访伊斯坦布尔时将其称之为“开放性事件”。