Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that Ankara could “part ways” with the European Union if necessary when asked about the contents of a European Parliament report on Turkey.
The report, which was agreed earlier this week, stated that Turkey’s accession process with the 27-member bloc cannot proceed at this time and urged the EU to look at “a parallel and realistic framework” for its relations with Ankara.
Since it first became a candidate for membership in the EU 24 years ago, Turkey has faced delays in the accession process due to the EU’s worries about the country’s respect for the rule of law and respect for human rights.
Erdogan told reporters prior to a trip to the US: “The EU is trying to break away from Turkey.” “We will assess these developments, and if necessary, we can sever ties with the EU,” the statement reads.
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said earlier this week that the European Parliament report took “a shallow and non-visionary” approach to the country’s relations with the EU and contained baseless claims and prejudices.
