BERLIN (Dow Jones)–After President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s election victory, the FDP is demanding that Turkey’s EU accession process be declared a failure. “The EU accession process must be ended,” said FDP Secretary General Bijan Djir-Sarai to the editorial network Germany (RND). “This Turkish government is light years away from Europe.” The country has been on an authoritarian course for years. “Human and civil rights are being systematically restricted and the economic situation is desolate. This course will continue.” The voting behavior of some Turks in Germany is also disappointing. It leaves behind “many integration-political questions.”
The chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Michael Roth (SPD), also made clear doubts about the EU accession process: “After Turkey has once again opted for Erdogan, it must clarify whether it is seriously prepared to take concrete steps towards the EU again.” , Roth told the RND. Erdogan must also give up his veto against Sweden joining NATO before the NATO summit in July. In order to remain in the Council of Europe, Turkey must fulfill its treaty obligations. This includes “finally implementing the judgments of the European Court of Justice”. Among others, the human rights activist Osman Kavala must be released.
The foreign policy spokesman for the Greens in the Bundestag, Jürgen Trittin, opposed withdrawing from the accession process. “Turkey is not Erdogan, the elections also showed that,” Trittin told RND. “The accession process has been on hold for years. Terminating it would de facto change nothing, but play into Erdogan’s hands.” In order to convey a clear EU stance to Erdogan, Trittin brought up stricter requirements for investments from the EU: “Turkey is dependent on investments from the EU. These must be tied more than before to conditions relating to the rule of law and human rights.”
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The Union called on the federal government to take a clear position. “We expect that she will now present her offer of cooperation and her expectations towards Turkey,” said Deputy Union parliamentary group leader Johann Wadephul to the RND. Hopes of a rapprochement with Europe have died. But Turkey remains an important strategic partner.
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May 29, 2023 18:00 ET (22:00 GMT)