PM: Ankara not plans to withdraw its application for EU membership

By Azernews

By Gunay Hasanova

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told Ria Novosti that Turkey did not plan to withdraw the country's application for the EU membership.

He added that Brussels must understand that it is impossible to ensure its security without Ankara. "We do not and did not have a decision to call back our application for EU membership. The European Union should think hard of the steps they are taking not for our sake, but for the sake their own future. The future and security of the European Union are impossible without Turkey," Yildirim said.

Yildirim emphasized that the EU has many points of conjugation in different areas with Russia and Turkey.

“Hence, they need to think very well about the consequences of their decisions”, he added.

Turkey formally applied for an EU member in 1987 and accession talks in 2005, even though Ankara's aspirations to become part of the bloc dates back to the 1960s.

The European Commission has proposed in May that the European Parliament and EU Council will lift visa restrictions for citizens of Turkey if Ankara fulfills the remaining conditions for abolishing visa entries until the end of June.

The EU and Turkey signed a refugee deal on March 18, which aimed to discourage irregular migration through the Aegean Sea by taking stricter measures against human traffickers and improving the conditions of nearly 3 million Syrian refugees in Turkey.

However, relations between Turkey and the EU have been strained since the July 15 coup attempt. Ankara says it has not received enough support from its EU allies, while Brussels criticized the Turkish government's crackdown on the military coup plotters, urging Ankara to comply with the EU's rights and freedoms criteria.

Ankara criticized the European Union's stance on the PKK terror group and FETO, saying EU states are turning a blind eye to the terror attacks against the Turkish state and its people as well as the activities of the group within the borders of the EU.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned the EU to make a decision by year's end on Turkey's membership or he would call a referendum on the matter, adding that Turkey is not constrained to joining the EU and it has other options as well.

Later, the European Parliament adopted a temporary motion on November 24, urging member states to freeze Turkey's accession in the bloc.

Following the EP’s vote, the Turkish president warned to open the country’s borders and allow refugees into the EU.

The EU countries' leaders decided to evaluate relations with Turkey at the EU summit on December 15- 16.