Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz says EU should get tough on Turkey

Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz said on Nov. 7 that the EU should change its stance on Turkey following the government’s recent measures and stop the flow of billions of euros in aid if Ankara fails to stick to its migrants deal with the bloc, AFP has reported. Kurz told Oe1 radio that Turkey must “top the agenda” of an upcoming meeting of EU foreign ministers on Nov. 14, which should agree a “different EU policy.”

“Over recent years Turkey has moved further and further away from the EU, but our policy has remained the same. That can’t work. What we need are clear consequences. In Turkey, opposition figures are being arrested, journalists are being persecuted, officials are being fired if they think differently and the return of the death penalty is being talked about,” the Minister said.

Stopping the funds “is the logical consequence … It is quite clear that this money will not flow if Turkey does not stick to its side of the deal,” he added.

SOURCE: HURRIYET DAILY NEWS