Jakarta - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said that Ankara could "part ways" with the European Union if necessary when asked about the contents of the European Parliament's report on Turkey.
The report, adopted earlier this week, said Turkey's accession process with the 27-nation bloc cannot continue under current conditions and called on the European Union to explore “parallel and realistic frameworks” in its relations with Ankara.
Turkey has been an official candidate to join the EU for 24 years, but accession talks stalled in recent years due to the bloc's concerns about human rights abuses and respect for the rule of law.
“The EU is trying to disengage from Turkey,” Erdogan told reporters ahead of a trip to the United States. “We will evaluate these developments and if necessary, we can part ways with the EU.”
Turkey's Foreign Ministry said earlier this week that the European Parliament's report contained unfounded accusations and prejudices and took a "superficial and unvisionary" approach to the country's relations with the EU.
Last July, Erdogan made a direct link between Sweden's efforts to join the NATO military alliance, which his country continues to block, and Turkey's long-standing candidacy for membership in the European Union.
The European Commission has rejected the surprise request made by the Turkish President.
“Turkey has been waiting at the doorstep of the European Union for more than 50 years, and almost all NATO member states are now members of the European Union. I extend this appeal to the countries that have kept Turkey waiting at the door of the European Union. European Union for more than 50 years," said Erdogan on July 10, 2023.
“Come and pave the way for Türkiye's membership in the European Union. When you open the way for Turkey, we will open the way for Sweden as we did for Finland.”
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