In the last decade, the debates have intensified on Turkey’s estrangement from the path of European Union membership and an “orientation change” in Turkish Foreign Policy. In this context, by making use of the categories of change in foreign policy Charles Hermann identified, this study aims to shed a light on the change in Turkey-EU relations. In his article it is revealed that the effects of the refugee crisis originated from growing instability in the region since the beginning of the Arab uprisings and the Syrian civil war have become an increasingly pressing issue in Europe. Being a transit country of migrants between the Middle East and the Schengen area has made Turkey a buffer state which protects Europe from irregular migration and has raised its importance for the European Union. This process has revitalized Turkey-EU relations by catalyzing membership negotiations and visa liberation program to gain Turkish cooperation on migration management and border securitization. In this framework, this study reveals that the revitalized relationships of Turkey-EU have come to the breaking point as a result of two reasons: Escalating populism and xenophobia in EU member countries and rising Eurosceptic discourse with the events following the military coup attempt in the night of 15th July 2016 in Turkey. Lastly, it argues that it has triggered a process of “goal change” in the relationships from “full membership to strategic partnership”.