MEPs Call for Reviewing Turkey Relations

EU Lawmakers Call for ‘Alternatives’ to Turkey’s Accession to Bloc.

 
Brussels, 30 Rajab 1438/27 April 2017 (MINA) — The European Parliament (EP) in its full session in Strasbourg Wednesday debated relations with Turkey, in which several MEPs said that recent developments call for a review of ties with Ankara and suspension of EU membership talks, KUNA reported.

Opening the debate, (EP) President Antonio Tajani urged Turkey to respect fundamental rights, stressing, “Europe is not an Islamophobic continent and is not closing the door on the Turkish people.”

EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn said, “The Constitutional reform and the circumstances in which the referendum took place are a matter of concern. Once the constitutional changes are fully implemented Turkey will move even further away from the European standards.”

Many MEPs voiced concern at the way Turkey’s recent referendum, which backed expanding presidential powers, was conducted, calling it “unfair.”

Manfred Weber, the Chairman of the European Peoples’ Party Group in the EP said, “It is clear that there will be no EU enlargement for Turkey. We must stop pretending it could be different and stop enlargement talks. We need a clean slate with Turkey.”

Leader of the Liberals’ Group in the EP, Guy Verhofstadt, called on the EU to stop accession talks with Turkey.

“Turkish accession is not realistic any more. Therefore, we must find a way to live with Turkey, cooperate with the government and engage with the Turkish people. It is time the Council and Commission stop the accession talks,” he stressed. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)