Skip to main content

Is Turkey at the end of its EU adventure?

The European Parliament’s call to freeze membership talks with Turkey may not be binding for EU leaders, but still marks a grim milestone with far-reaching political and economic implications for Turkey.
A European Union (L) and Turkish flag fly outside a hotel in Istanbul, Turkey, May 4, 2016.  REUTERS/Murad Sezer/File Photo - RTX2SH64
Read in 

The European Parliament has voted overwhelmingly in favor of freezing Turkey’s European Union accession talks, citing numerous examples of Ankara’s “disproportionate” and “repressive” measures under the state of emergency.

Specifically, the group noted Turkey's breaches of basic rights and freedoms, “severe restrictions” on freedom of expression and the media, the arrest of 10 Kurdish lawmakers and some 150 journalists, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s stance in favor of reinstating the death penalty and “statements disputing the Treaty of Lausanne, which defines the borders of modern Turkey and has contributed to safeguarding peace and stability in the region for almost a century.”

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.