Borrell: These measures take Turkey out of European path

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA) - Archive

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High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission Josep Borrell spoke about Turkey-EU relations at the press conference following the Foreign Affairs Council yesterday (March 22).

Borrell raised concerns about a series of current developments in Turkey including the closure case filed against the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), Turkey's withdrawal from the İstanbul Convention and the tension in the Eastern Mediterranean, especially with Greece.

"Today [the Council] had other important issues. Maybe the most important one, because it is going to be considered by the Leaders at the next European Union Council is Turkey," said Borrell and added the following:

'De-escalation in Mediterranean still fragile'

"With the Ministers, we assessed the European Union-Turkey relations in view of the joint report we prepared with the Commission for the members of the European Council next Thursday. This was broadly considered as a good basis for the debate of the Heads of State and Government, although Ministers provided also additional assessment.

"As the report recognises, since last December we have seen some signals in the right direction from the Turkish leadership and steps towards de-escalation in the Eastern Mediterranean.

"Drilling and exploratory vessels were withdrawn from the Cypriot exclusive economic zone, rhetoric has toned down and Turkish authorities have expressed their interest in a strong relationship with the EU.

"Still, the process of de-escalation in the Eastern Mediterranean remains fragile and de-escalation efforts need to be sustained.

'All options will be kept on the table'

"At the same time, the domestic situation in Turkey remains of serious concern, including the threats to close one of the major opposition parties, the HDP, and the withdrawal of Turkey of 'the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence'- better known as the Istanbul Convention.

"You will have seen the statements I issued on these matters expressing our strong concern and condemnation and also the fear that these kind of measures are taking Turkey out of the European path.

"We agreed with the Ministers that it is important to continue encouraging positive developments. At the same time, there was a broad agreement that it is important to keep all options on the table in case required.

"In order to continue preparing the European Union Council, this evening, I will also meet with the Foreign Minister of Turkey, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, with whom I will comment the report in order to inform the Leaders during the [European Council] meeting. The [Foreign Affairs] Council has not taken conclusions about the report on Turkey because, certainly, it is up to the European Union Council to adopt them."

Meeting with Turkey's foreign minister

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), Turkey's foreign minister met Monday with the EU's foreign policy chief in Brussels and discussed bilateral ties, regional issues and other matters.

Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Twitter that Turkey "will work together with EU High Representative Josep Borrell to continue the positive agenda."

"More cooperation is needed on updating the Customs Union, visa liberalization, irregular migration and the fight against terrorism," said Çavuşoğlu, adding that "regional issues including Syria, Afghanistan and Libya" were also among the subjects the two officials discussed. (EKN/SD)