Several groups in the European Parliament (EP) on Tuesday called for temporarily freezing EU accession talks with Turkey due to repressive measures taken in the country in the period following an attempted coup in July.
A number of statements came from political groups in the parliament as well as a press release from the EP announcing a Thursday vote on a resolution regarding a freeze in talks with Turkey.
The statement said members of the parliament “strongly condemned the disproportinately repressive measures taken in Turkey” and suggested the EU Commission and member states impose a temporary freeze on accession talks. Dialogue with Turkey was encouraged; however, a possible reinstatement of the death penalty is considered completely unacceptable for a return to talks.
Johannes Hahn, commissioner for enlargement in the European Commission, posted messages on Tuesday night urging Turkey to apply the rule of law even under a state of emergency following the meeting of EP members in Strasbourg.
The European People’s Party (EPP), the largest bloc in the EP, also issued a statement on the same day urging a freeze of accession negotiations under the current circumstances.