European Union lawmakers called on Thursday for a temporary halt to European Union (EU) membership talks with Turkey.
Members of the European Parliament voted 479 to 37 in favor of a non-binding motion urging the European Commission and national governments to institute what lawmakers acknowledge would be a largely symbolic freeze in negotiations over Turkey's accession that have been going on for 11 years but have long been stalled.
The EU lawmakers' move is to temporarily halt the EU membership talks with Turkey was justified with what they call “Ankara's disproportionate" reaction to the July 15 coup bid as Ankara has been fighting against the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) following the coup bid by dismissing tens of thousands of state employees over their link with FETÖ terrorist organization.
"The European Parliament ... strongly condemns the disproportionate repressive measures taken in Turkey since the failed military coup attempt in July," the motion read, although added that it remained committed to keeping Turkey "anchored" to the EU.
EU leaders are due to discuss Turkey again when they meet in Brussels at a regular summit on December 15-16.
Turkey formally applied to become an EU member in 1987 and accession talks began in 2005.
Turkey and the EU agreed to speed up membership talks in March as part of an accord on curbing migrant flows into Greece in exchange for Turkey getting cash and visa-free access for its citizens.
