Erdogan: Turkey needs to reconsider its relations with the European Union
ANKARA, March 13. /Offset. TASS Kirill Zharov/. The Turkish authorities are discussing options to continue relations with the European Union in the context of accession. On Monday said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a TV channel A Haber.
“Review of relations with the EU on our agenda. However, now the main goal — April 16 (referendum amendments to the Constitution). Everyone knows my thoughts about the EU. Europe is still jerking us around”, he said.
According to the Turkish leader, “and during the presidency of Malta in the EU this tactic continues.” He noted that in such circumstances, “Turkey should revise its relations with the EU”.
“They are being unfair. They have made promises on refugees, said about €6 billion of aid. It’s €750 million babbling about visa liberalization, which was to occur in late 2016, but this did not happen,” said Erdogan.
Turkey continues the negotiation process on accession to the EU as a full member, but in the past year, he’s almost not moving. Still not open to all points of the negotiating agenda, but relations between Ankara and Brussels becoming more and more strained.
The latest round of escalation has occurred from-for scandals with restrictions or cancellations of performances of Turkish politicians and members of the government in a number of EU countries, where they were to campaign for constitutional amendments introducing a presidential system in Turkey.