Austria’s Chancellor Karl Nehammer has voiced his opposition to Türkiye’s full membership in the European Union (EU).
In an interview with Welt, Nehammer stated, “We cannot envision Türkiye achieving full EU membership.”
Nehammer said he is in favor of “further rapprochement” between Ankara and Brussels. But he defends a new partnership between the two sides on the basis of “mutual trust and cooperation on economic and political issues.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had slammed the EU’s stance on talks with Ankara’s accession. “For half a century, EU member states have been slowing us down, and they are still doing it today. Regardless of their delays, Türkiye remains Türkiye, and we will persist on our path,” Erdoğan stated.
Hakan Fidan, Türkiye’s Foreign Minister, also said the EU cannot be a global power without Ankara.
Türkiye submitted its application to join the European Economic Community in 1959, and it has held the status of an EU candidate since 1999, with formal negotiations commencing in December 2005
Nehammer went on to say, “It is important that we treat each other honestly, and this also includes formally ending the accession negotiations that have been frozen for years and developing a new concept for neighborly cooperation.”
According to the Austrian prime minister, Türkiye is a very important partner for the EU. He said, “I will also meet with Turkish President Erdogan in the near future.”
Karl Nehammer also emphasized that efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine should involve Türkiye.
By Breaking News Turkey