Istanbul – Turkish President, Recep Erdogan, has demanded a decision from the EU on his country’s accession to the bloc.
The EU leaders are set to discuss the matter at a summit in a week.
Erdogan said at a meeting of his Justice and Development Party (AKP) on Friday, “submit your declaration and let’s be done with the issue.
“We do not need you.”
Accession talks between Turkey and the bloc came to a de facto standstill in the aftermath of an attempted coup in Turkey in 2016, sparking condemnation from the Turkish government.
German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, said that Turkey’s bid to join the EU would be discussed at the summit on Thursday and Friday.
Germany is currently embroiled in a diplomatic spat with Turkey over the detention of its citizens in the post-coup crackdown and has voiced reluctance towards extending EU membership to Ankara.
“Those, who do everything in their power in order to isolate Turkey from the West and, if possible, the entire world are labouring in vain,” Erdogan said.
In spite of his criticisms, he said that Turkey’s bid to join would not be scrapped by Ankara.
“Still they string us along, but we will be patient. We say it will not be us, but you, who leaves the ring,” Erdogan said.