EU parliament suspends Turkey’s accession talks
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The European Parliament voted on Thursday to suspend Turkey’s accession talks in light of concerns over Ankara’s crackdown following the attempted coup of July 15.
The European Parliament “strongly condemns the disproportionate repressive measures under way in Turkey,” reads the motion which passed with a large majority of 479 votes in favour, 37 against, and 107 abstentions.
The motion asserted that Turkey, in its mass detentions of alleged coup plotters, dismissals of public servants, closure of independent media outlets, and talks of reinstating capital punishment, has failed to respect the values of Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union.
“The Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities,” reads Article 2.
Turkey’s Minister for EU Affairs Omer Celik responded on Thursday, calling the motion “null and void,” state-run Anadolu Agency reported. He told reporters that the motion was not “something to be taken seriously” and accused the EU of adopting the non-binding motion for “political messages.”
Speaking one day before the vote, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed little concern about the matter. “Whatever the result, this vote has not value in our eyes,” he said, speaking at a summit on Islamic economic cooperation in Istanbul.
Erdogan has recently expressed interest in strengthening ties outside of the EU, including joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, an economic, political, and military organization that includes China and Russia as members.
The EU motion commits to reviewing its decision once the state of emergency, imposed after the attempted coup, is lifted but added that reintroduction of the death penalty would “lead to a formal suspension of the accession process.”
The European Parliament “strongly condemns the disproportionate repressive measures under way in Turkey,” reads the motion which passed with a large majority of 479 votes in favour, 37 against, and 107 abstentions.
The motion asserted that Turkey, in its mass detentions of alleged coup plotters, dismissals of public servants, closure of independent media outlets, and talks of reinstating capital punishment, has failed to respect the values of Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union.
“The Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities,” reads Article 2.
Turkey’s Minister for EU Affairs Omer Celik responded on Thursday, calling the motion “null and void,” state-run Anadolu Agency reported. He told reporters that the motion was not “something to be taken seriously” and accused the EU of adopting the non-binding motion for “political messages.”
Speaking one day before the vote, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed little concern about the matter. “Whatever the result, this vote has not value in our eyes,” he said, speaking at a summit on Islamic economic cooperation in Istanbul.
Erdogan has recently expressed interest in strengthening ties outside of the EU, including joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, an economic, political, and military organization that includes China and Russia as members.
The EU motion commits to reviewing its decision once the state of emergency, imposed after the attempted coup, is lifted but added that reintroduction of the death penalty would “lead to a formal suspension of the accession process.”