German Chancellor Angela Merkel addresses a news conference after talks with Malta’s Prime Minister Joseph Muscat at the chancellery in Berlin on Nov. 29, 2016. (Photo: Reuters/Hannibal Hanschke)
BERLIN (Reuters)—German Chancellor Angela Merkel has told lawmakers in her conservative bloc that she does not expect the European Union to open negotiations on new policy areas with Turkey in its talks to join the bloc, a source told Reuters.
Turkish accession talks began in 2005 but have made slow progress. Merkel has repeatedly said the EU, which needs Ankara to help tackle the migrant crisis, must continue to engage with Turkey.
Bild newspaper ran a story under a headline that said Merkel opposed further EU talks with the fellow NATO member and reported that this meant discussions were effectively over.
However, one conservative parliamentary source said the chancellor had rather re-stated her position in response to a question at a meeting of lawmakers.
“She said that at the moment no further negotiating chapters would be opened in any case and in addition, from her point of view, there was no need for action,â€
