European Union Commissioner for Enlargement stated on Friday that Turkey is drifting further from its goal of joining the European Union. This assessment stems from recent Turkish actions targeting the LGBTQ+ community and restricting media freedoms. Turkey has held candidate status for EU membership since 1999, however, its progress has been consistently stalled due to concerns regarding human rights and democratic regression. The commissioner’s remarks, made in Edirne, Turkey, highlight a widening gap between Turkey and the EU's standards. These developments raise serious questions about the future of Turkey's long-held aspiration for full membership. Further setbacks in these areas are likely to further diminish any prospect of accession talks resuming meaningfully.