Turkey issued a warning to the European Union on Thursday, after talks regarding its EU membership stalled.
The EU voted to halt accession negotiations with Turkey, to the dismay of Prime Minister Erdoğan. Whilst the vote is not binding in nature, it is representative of the increasingly strained diplomatic ties between the 28-member bloc and Turkey.
“If Europe goes too far, we will allow refugees to pass from the border gates,” Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in response to the vote during a speech on Friday at a women’s rights conference.
“Do not forget, the West needs Turkey.”
These comments directly refer to the landmark deal that was reached in March regarding the ongoing refugee crisis that continues to challenge the continent. The deal negotiated the halting of the influx of refugees in exchange for economic assistance, as well as an agreement to allow visa-free travel to Turkish citizens within the Schengen passport zone. Mr Erdoğan’s hostility cast doubts over further co-operation with respect to migration flows as well as further integration.
The Turkish government have increased censorship of media outlets and any perceived dissenters, as the country remains in a State of Emergency” following the attempted coup in Istanbul in the summer. Earlier this month, the government accused Leaders of the HDP part, Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, of militant propaganda distribution deemed of an anti-regime nature. The detentions were strongly condemned by Germany and the rest of Europe.
Turkey’s repressive response has provoked concern over the Government’s commitment to upholding democracy and human rights – philosophies that underpin the European project. Erdoğan’s actions thus far have only suggested increased alienation from the West, severely jeopardising any future prospects of a move towards closer co-operation.
in July, Erdoğan has indicated that he is prepared to reinstate the death penalty “if the people demand it”. This would be a direct reversal of a measure initially undertaken to abolish the practice in efforts to join the European Union, and thus a re-emerging deterrent for the EU’s consideration of Turkey.
Turkey’s has been under consideration for EU membership since 2005.