The EU has reduced funds to Turkey by more than €1.2 billion ($1.33 billion) since 2017 due to its deteriorating record in human rights and fundamental freedoms, the Euronews Turkish service reported on Monday.
According to an anonymous source from the European Commission who spoke to Euronews, another reason for the decrease in funds granted to Turkey has been the country’s failure to develop projects aimed at promoting democratic values.
Previously, a spokesperson for the commission had said the funds extended to Turkey would drop by 40 percent, anticipating up to €759 million in reductions between 2018 and 2020.
In March of this year the European Parliament called for a halt to accession talks with Ankara as well as cutbacks in funds.
Turkey’s EU bid was already at a standstill after a failed coup in July 2016 that was followed by a two-year-long state of emergency that witnessed a widespread crackdown on dissent and the media.