EU laments poor progress by Turkey in membership efforts
The Mainichi,
April 18, 2018
Turkey
has failed to make progress and is even backsliding on bringing its laws into
line with European Union standards as it seeks to join the bloc, the EU’s
executive arm said Tuesday.
has failed to make progress and is even backsliding on bringing its laws into
line with European Union standards as it seeks to join the bloc, the EU’s
executive arm said Tuesday.
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Turkey’s
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, center, accompanied by Prime Minister
Binali
Yildirim, arrives to deliver a speech at his ruling Justice and Development
(AKP) Party weekly meeting in Ankara, Turkey, on April 17, 2018.
(Kayhan
Ozer/Pool Photo via AP) |
BRUSSELS
(AP) — The Turkish government responded by saying the EU had never been
“objective, equal or fair” toward Turkey.
The
European Commission, which monitors membership talks, said in a report that
Ankara continues to crack down on opponents and the media and that “no
progress has been achieved” in fighting corruption.
European Commission, which monitors membership talks, said in a report that
Ankara continues to crack down on opponents and the media and that “no
progress has been achieved” in fighting corruption.
Brussels
also called on Turkey to lift the state of emergency that was introduced after
a 2016 coup attempt.
also called on Turkey to lift the state of emergency that was introduced after
a 2016 coup attempt.
It said
the “broad scale and collective nature, and the disproportionality of
measures taken” by the Turkish government under the state of emergency,
“such as widespread dismissals, arrests, and detentions,” raised
“serious concerns.”
the “broad scale and collective nature, and the disproportionality of
measures taken” by the Turkish government under the state of emergency,
“such as widespread dismissals, arrests, and detentions,” raised
“serious concerns.”
In
Ankara, Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said the EU had welcomed as members
countries that were economically and politically less developed than Turkey.
Ankara, Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said the EU had welcomed as members
countries that were economically and politically less developed than Turkey.
“They
have displayed an approach that is not fair or equal,” Bozdag said.
“It is not Turkey that is moving away from the EU. It is the EU, which …
has not acted in an impartial manner.”
have displayed an approach that is not fair or equal,” Bozdag said.
“It is not Turkey that is moving away from the EU. It is the EU, which …
has not acted in an impartial manner.”
He said:
“Despite this, Turkey has not given up on its membership aim and does not
intend to do so. If they are giving up (on Turkey’s membership) then they
should say so.”
“Despite this, Turkey has not given up on its membership aim and does not
intend to do so. If they are giving up (on Turkey’s membership) then they
should say so.”
Turkey
began EU membership talks in 2005, but the discussions have been at a
standstill in recent years.
began EU membership talks in 2005, but the discussions have been at a
standstill in recent years.
