Germany opposes call to end Turkey’s EU accession talks

By Ayhan Simsek

BERLIN

The German government on Friday opposed calls to freeze Turkey’s EU membership talks, arguing that any such move would not help to enhance democracy and human rights in the country.

Speaking at a press conference in Berlin, Foreign Ministry deputy spokeswoman Sawsan Chebli said Germany supports and hopes for the continuation of Turkey’s EU accession talks.

“We have great interest in Turkey’s continued orientation and progress towards Europe,” she said.

“But as our minister said, in the end it is Turkey’s responsibility to decide whether to continue its European way or turn away from Europe,” she added.

Chebli made the remarks a day after the European Parliament approved a non-binding motion to freeze EU-membership talks with Turkey, in response to post-coup investigations and recent developments in the country.

Recalling German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s visit to Ankara last week and his meetings with Turkish civil society representatives and opposition lawmakers, Chebli highlighted that many of these people also opposed the freezing of Turkey’s EU membership talks.

“When we talk to them, they are telling us that it is important to continue talks. It is important that we do not freeze accession talks, such a move would only give more damage to relations between Europe and Turkey,” she said.

“This would be neither in the interest of Europe, nor that of Turkey,” she added.

Adopted on Thursday by 479 votes to 37, with 107 abstentions, the European Parliament’s motion called on "the commission and on the member states to initiate a temporary freeze of the ongoing accession negotiations with Turkey".

In the motion, members of European Parliament strongly condemned the alleged "disproportionate repressive measures" taken by the Turkish government since the July 15 failed coup attempt. These "violate basic rights and freedoms protected by the Turkish Constitution", they claimed.

Turkey's Minister for EU Affairs Omer Celik also slammed the motion on Thursday for not being constructive and politically consistent, and said it would be "null and void" for Ankara.