EU shouldn’t freeze accession talks with Turkey: Germany

BERLIN

AFP photo

The European Union should not freeze Turkey’s negotiations to join the bloc, Germany’s Foreign Ministry said on Nov. 25, a day after members of the European Parliament voted in a non-binding motion in support of such a freeze.

“It is important that we keep talking,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Sawsan Chebli told a regular government news conference. 

“It is important that we do not freeze the accession negotiations because that would only further damage the relationship between Turkey and Europe, and that would not be in the interest of Turkey or of Europe,” she added. 

Chebli said the EU’s migrant deal with Turkey remained in the interest of both sides. 

“If one looks at the facts, then it is the case that both sides are sticking to the agreement and we hope that remains the case as it is in the interests of both sides,” she said.   

“We see the EU-Turkey agreement... as a success for both sides. And the continuation of this agreement is in the interest of all parties,” Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokeswoman, Ulrike Demmer, said. 

“The EU stands by its commitments under the agreement and is meeting its commitments. Threats on either side are not helpful now,” she added.     

“Where there are difficulties, we need to resolve them.”