Ankara – Turkey has rejected proposals to drop European Union accession talks in favour of cooperation in other areas, an official has said.
Turkish EU Affairs Minister Omer Celik said on Thursday ahead of a European Parliament vote on suspending Turkey’s membership bid.
Celik, speaking during a visit to Ankara by EU enlargement commissioner Johannes Hahn, said it was wrong for EU lawmakers to call for the suspension of Turkey’s membership talks.
The minister, however, added that such approaches would not benefit either side.
“We reject with the back of our hand any proposals that there should be strong cooperation between Turkey and the EU in other areas instead of accession talks,’’ Celik told newsmen.
On Wednesday, EU lawmakers called for a suspension of Turkey’s membership talks with the EU, saying President Tayyip Erdogan’s crackdown on opponents meant Ankara did not meet the bloc’s democratic criteria.
A vote on the proposal is expected to pass comfortably, but the parliament has limited influence on the issue.
The European Commission and EU governments have ignored calls for a formal suspension of a process already in limbo.
Turkey’s ties with its European allies have deteriorated since July 2016’s abortive putsch, with Turkey accusing some European states of not showing enough support.
“The European Parliament has failed in its solidarity with Turkey following the coup attempt.
“We had expected strong support, but the call to end membership talks instead is wrong,’’ Celik said.
In addition, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus, in an interview on Wednesday told newsmen that Turkey was not responsible for the escalation of tensions between the two sides.
“Europe displaying inappropriate behaviour toward Turkey is not a situation we can accept.
“Being against our President Erdogan is also not a rational stance from Europe.
“Europe must decide if they really want to enlarge,’’ Kurtulmus said.
EU commissioner Hahn said he hoped the interaction between the two sides would lead to a higher level of political dialogue.
“I don’t know what will be decided, but I have to stress that the European Parliament is one of the institutions elected by the European citizens.
“Members of the European Parliament represent the view of their voters,’’ Hahn said.
Kurtulmus said he believed sincere negotiations between the two parties would help resolve issues, and that Europe should take notice of the helping hand Turkey has extended.
EU leaders have been critical of Erdogan and his behaviour toward opponents, both before and after the abortive coup.
However, they do not want to undermine an agreement struck in 2016 whereby Turkey effectively stopped migrants reaching Greece, easing a crisis that had threatened EU unity.
Celik said Turkey had noted the bloc’s criticism regarding its judiciary and freedom of press and expression, however, added the EU was blocking the process by not opening new chapters.