Omer Celik, Turkey's new EU Affairs Minister, accused the 27-member EU block of applying "double standards" in the fight against terror.
“Turkey's EU membership is important, but it is not the country's sole option,” said Çelik.
Çelik's remark was heard on Wednesday at a ceremony during which he took over the post from Volkan Bozkır.
His statement came amid tensions between Turkey and EU officials over a deal to lift visa requirements for Turkish nationalstraveling inside EU's Schengen zone.
The EU says Turkey must change its anti-terror laws before Turks are granted visa-free travel to EU countries. Turkey rejects that EU condition, saying it would hamper its efforts against the threat of PKK and Daesh.
Authorities in Ankara have threatened to block laws in relation to the historic Turkish-EU deal if the EU fails to keep its promise to grant a visa waiver.
