EU covertly opening door to Turkey in shock move amid bloc's enlargement plan

The EU stoppped engaging with Turkey when President Erdogan became increasingly unpredictable in the wake of a failed coup in 2016.

But in July, the EU agreed to re-engage with Turkey to progress its membership.

While there is expected to be increasing talk about the EU providing financial support to Turkey to support the victims of February's earthquake, Turkey's real priority is engaging with the EU on joining the customs union.

Turkey is understood to want a "new generation” customs plan, that would apply to services, agriculture and energy.

It has long complained that third countries that have customs deals with the EU can export their products into Turkey via the EU while Turkey is prohibited from exporting directly to those countries.

Today, the European Union's Enlargement Commissioner told Turkey that it must address issues around democracy and the rule of law if it wants to boost its drive to join the bloc.

The developments in the EU and Turkey's relationship comes as EU chiefs are eyeing up geographical expansion of the bloc - in the direction of Russia.

Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, told Politico that the Ukraine and the Western Balkans need to gain EU member status "quickly".

Speaking at a meeting of foreign ministers in Spain, he said: "The Spanish presidency is proposing … to hold a ministerial meeting together with the Western Balkans ministers.

"We will do it at the end of next month."

He added: "The issue of enlargement has been floating over our discussions.

"Ukraine has to become a member of the European Union. The Western Balkans also. Quickly."

Lawmakers in the bloc also recently floated a draft plan to tweak the Lisbon treaty and centralise power in the EU.

The 116-page document included a plan to expand Brussels' control over EU countries, proving many of the UK's Brexit voting community right.

The rule-by-the-majority plan, unveiled in a document seen by Politico, would apply in several areas, including defense, taxation and foreign policy.

The changes would be put in place through a tweak of the Lisbon Treaty. However, some insiders have slapped down the idea.

A senior EU diplomat told Playbook: "It’s a provocation. In Council there is no majority for treaty change."

They added: "The Council’s legal service has been advising us for months already that the Lisbon Treaty is 'enlargement proof'."

The document, seen by Politico, includes handing total control over environmental and climate matters to the EU central body.

It has been signed by Guy Verhofstadt and five other european lawmakers and is expected to be unveiled later this month.