EP adopts report recommending suspension of negotiations with Turkey

The European Parliament has adopted a report recommending suspension of negotiations with Turkey. The spokesman of ruling Ak Party has replied, “from our point of view, it is a worthless, null and discredited decision“. In its 2018 Turkey report, the European Parliament called for official suspension of accession talks with Turkey.

“2018 Report on Turkey” prepared by Kati PIRI, Dutch member of the parliament was voted at the General Assembly in Strasbourg. The proposal was accepted 370 against 109 with 143 members abstaining.

In the report which is only advisory and not binding, many points to draw Turkey’s reaction were included. The report covered criticism against Turkey regarding topics such as “Human rights, the rule of law, press freedom and the fight against corruption” and also included Greek and Greek thesis about Cyprus conflict, like every year.

The report that was critical of Ankara’s policy towards the Greek Cypriot administration called for Turkey to put an end to its military presence in Cyprus.

The report praised Turkey’s policy regarding Syrian refugees while referring to its military operations in the north of Syria as alarming.