Türkiye rejects 'narrow-minded' European Parliament report

Türkiye has rejected "biased and unrealistic assessments" from the European Parliament with a "shallow and visionless approach" in its 2021 report on the country.

Ankara does not accept the report which ignores the need to strengthen relations between Türkiye and the EU through mutual efforts, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

Türkiye primarily expects the European Parliament not to become a tool for "narrow-minded circles," as well as to have an encouraging attitude towards EU institutions for the revival of the accession talks, it added.

However, it has so far taken the "opposite stance," the statement said, adding that this attitude is "not surprising" from the European Parliament, which tolerates members of terrorist groups making terrorist propaganda.

The EU parliament had lost its credibility in the eyes of the Turkish public, the ministry said and stressed that the "baseless views" in the report reflecting claims on democracy, the rule of law, and human rights in Türkiye and the "narrow-minded" efforts of some EU members relating to the Aegean, Eastern Mediterranean, and Cyprus issues were "of no use to us."

READ MORE: Türkiye calls on Greece to withdraw its armed forces from Aegean islands

EU told to fulfill obligations

Türkiye expects the EU and all EU institutions to fulfill their obligations towards Ankara, revitalise the accession process, accelerate dialogue on visa liberalisation, start talks to update the Customs Union, increase cooperation in the fight against terrorism, and, especially, implement the 2016 voluntary humanitarian admission scheme within the scope of migration cooperation, it said.

The statement said that instead of encouraging steps to be taken on these issues, the report constitutes a new example of the European Parliament's detached, ideological, and biased attitude and only damages its reputation.

READ MORE: How the EU can help de-escalate Greece-Turkey tensions