EU to cut aid to Turkey as accession talks trail off

The European Council, the EU organ comprised of heads of member states who give strategic direction to the European integration project, recently signaled that it will cut its pre-accession funds for Turkey.

In a written statement on Oct. 20, European Council President Donald Tusk said the EU was reflecting “on whether to cut and re-orient pre-accession funds” to Ankara. The Polish statesman pointed out that the European club wanted “to keep the door open to Ankara, but the current reality … is making this difficult,” referring to the deterioration of the rule of law and democratic standards in Turkey. Tusk also advised Ankara “to respect all Member States in its relations with the EU, including when it comes to the implementation of the existing Customs Union agreement,” in reference to Turkey’s refusal to extend its 1995 customs union with the EU to the Greek Cypriot-ruled Republic of Cyprus.