European Parliament called to suspend talks on Turkey’s EU membership bid
STRASBOURG, France””Turkey’s EU membership talks should be suspended if proposed changes to the constitution go ahead, as these go against EU membership criteria, warned members of the European Parliament on Thursday.
The resolution was approved by 477 votes to 64, with 97 abstentions.
The resolution passed by parliament in Strasbourg “calls on the Commission and the member states… to formally suspend the accession negotiations with Turkey without delay if the constitutional reform package is implemented unchanged.”
Turkey was quick to dismiss the vote, with its European Affairs Minister Omer Celik saying that Ankara regarded Thursday’s vote in Strasbourg as invalid.
“This decision, which is based on false claims and allegations, is trampling the reputation of the institution in question,” Turkey’s foreign ministry said in a statement, referring to the European Parliament. “This decision is of no value for us.”
European Parliament members said they are concerned about Turkey backsliding in the rule of law, human rights, media freedom, and the fight against corruption. They condemn the repeatedly declared support for the reintroduction of the death penalty by the Turkish President, which would put into question Turkey’s membership in the Council of Europe and lead to an immediate end of EU accession talks.
Taking note of the outcome of Turkey’s recent referendum and the expansion of presidential powers, the resolution calls on the EU Commission and the EU national governments “to formally suspend the accession negotiations with Turkey without delay if the constitutional reform package is implemented unchanged.”
