Erdogan in threat to abandon EU bid
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TURKISH President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Brussels yesterday that Turkey would bring the curtain down on its bid to join the European Union if new accession chapters were not opened.
Erdogan’s threat to say “goodbye” to the European Union came minutes after he rejoined Turkey’s ruling party in the first major change to come into effect following a controversial vote to boost his powers.
Relations between Ankara and Brussels have tumbled to unprecedented lows following a failed coup bid on July 15.
The EU is troubled by the state of human rights in Turkey, while Turkey complains about a lack of solidarity from the bloc.
Erdogan last month narrowly won a referendum on sweeping constitutional changes to create a presidential system. But the victory was contested by the opposition and gained only the most tepid of welcomes in Brussels.
“There is no option other than opening chapters that you have not opened until now,” Erdogan said, referring to the individual policy areas that need to be concluded before Turkey joins.
“If you open, then great. If you don’t open, then goodbye,” Erdogan said. “Turkey is not their (the EU’s) doorman,” he added.
Sixteen chapters have been opened out of a total of 35 since accession talks began in October 2005, although Turkey’s bid to be a part of the bloc dates back to the 1960s. “First you have to handle these chapters and fulfil your promises. Then we will sit at the table and talk. Otherwise, we have nothing left to discuss with you,” Erdogan said.
Some EU states — led by Austria — have suggested membership talks be frozen. But EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini said on Friday that talks had not been halted.
Germany has urged its EU peers not to end accession talks despite deep misgivings over Turkey’s rights record, saying the country is key to European interests, not least as a NATO ally.
German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said on Friday that Berlin was “strictly against breaking off the accession talks ... It would be the completely wrong reaction.”
EU President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker want to meet Erdogan when he travels to Brussels for a NATO summit on May 25 despite the growing tensions.
Erdogan, who returned from a visit to India on Monday, will however first be visiting Russia, China and United States in an indication of Turkey’s priorities.
Erdogan made the remarks in a key speech that followed his formal return to the ruling Justice and Development Party.
Under the former constitution, the head of state had to sever ties with their party and Erdogan had to leave the AKP when he became president in August 2014 after more than a decade as premier.
The reforms permit the president to be a member of a political party, allowing Erdogan to return to the AKP which he co-founded in 2001 as a new Islamic-rooted force in Turkish politics and which has dominated the scene ever since.
Supporters of the changes say they will bring Turkey efficient governance but opponents fear they will set the country on the path to authoritarian rule.
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