The European Parliament’s rapporteur on Turkey demanded on Wednesday the formal suspension of EU accessions talks with Ankara.
“Continuing a negotiating process aimed at EU integration of Turkey has lost all credibility under the present circumstances”, says MEP Kati Piri in her Turkey report draft.
Piri had previously made remarks that attempted to legitimize terror groups such as the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Fetullah Terror Organization (FETÖ). She also expressed concern over Turkey’s counterterrorism operations.
“For us… the PKK and its variations are not a threat," she said.
Last week, the European Commission's chief spokesman said that Turkey's European Union membership accession process should continue.
"The collegial decision, the position of the college is that the accession negotiations [of Turkey] should be maintained," Margaritis Schinas told a daily press briefing in Brussels.
Turkey applied for membership in the European Economic Community (a precursor to the EU) in 1987. It became eligible for EU membership in 1997 and accession talks began in 2005.
