- 13 Mar 2019 19:07
#14993674
Turkey's response should be annexation of Greece and Cyprus, and walking back from migration deal.
European Parliament calls for suspension of Turkey's EU accession process
The European Parliament called to formally suspend Turkey's European Union accession process in a vote Wednesday, while admitting to its reliance on Ankara to uphold a 2016 migration deal stemming arrivals to the bloc from Middle Eastern countries such as Syria.
A total of 370 lawmakers voted in favor, 109 against, and 143 abstained. The resolution is not legally binding.
The resolution, which blasts the Turkish government, notes "Turkey's important role in responding to the migration crisis" and its "great hospitality" in sheltering more than 3.5 million Syrian refugees.
Ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Spokesman Ömer Çelik rebuked approval of the resolution. ''This disreputable decision shows that the European Parliament is under the influence of far-right ideology,'' he said.
Turkish officials had previously slammed the draft report for demonstrating the EU's biased and prejudiced attitude toward Turkey, adding that Ankara would continue to push for its amendment.
"The call in the draft report — which is not legally binding and bears only the status of an advisory decision — to officially suspend our country's accession negotiations with the EU is absolutely unacceptable," Turkey's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said.
https://www.dailysabah.com/eu-affairs/2 ... on-process
Turkey's response should be annexation of Greece and Cyprus, and walking back from migration deal.