A draft document issued at the end of exploratory talks between Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Social Democratic Party (SPD) to form a coalition ruled out opening any new chapters in Turkey's European Union membership bid, visa liberalization and an updated customs union, in the face of growing domestic pressure.
It is stated in draft agrement as "the situation of democracy, the rule of law and human rights has deteriorated. Therefore, we do not want to close chapters in the accession negotiations and open new ones."
On foreign policy, the document proposed limits on arms exports and an immediate end to arms sales to countries involved in the Yemen conflict - a move apparently targeted at Saudi Arabia, a major buyer of German weaponry.
On the other hand, some concrete steps may be needed from Berlin. Turkey's disgruntlement with Germany on the issues of tolerance of terrorist groups such as the PKK and the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) may require the latter to ramp up the level of collaboration.
While around 14,000 PKK sympathizers are estimated to be sheltering in Germany, more than 700 Gülenists have fled the country since the July 15, 2016 coup attempt. Ankara, in response, demands the extradition of top terrorist figures from Berlin, a request which has gone unheeded so far.
Although we have seen German and Turkish Foreign Minister come together to open a new chapter in the relations during last week, we believe that it will not mean more than a "good willing" for future. Turkish - German relation will likely to deter more in 2018.
