EU must not make threatening statements on Turkey’s accession: FM Çavuşoğlu

“EU officials must not make threatening statements on Turkey not joining the bloc. We won’t be discouraged by their threats,” Çavuşoğlu told private broadcaster Habertürk on July 25. 

He added that the EU is free to express its opinion on the capital punishment debate that emerged after the July 15 failed coup attempt in Turkey, but this “will backfire if they make threatening statements.” 

“No offence, but Juncker cannot talk by looking down to Turkey. We won’t accept that,” Çavuşoğlu also said. 
Juncker on July 15 said Turkey is in no position to become an EU member any time soon and all accession negotiations would stop immediately if Ankara reintroduces the death penalty.

“I believe that Turkey, in its current state, is not in a position to become a member any time soon and not even over a longer period,” he said on French television station France 2. 

Juncker said any country that included capital punishment in its legislation had no place in the European Union.