Josep Borrell's visit: Turkey points out its issues of contention with the EU

Text by: Anne Andlauer

2 min

The head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell was in Ankara on Monday for talks on the state of relations with Turkey, in a context of strong tensions between Paris and Ankara. He notably met the Turkish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mevlüt Cavusoglu, who did not hide Turkish resentments and frustrations towards Europe at the end of the meeting.

Publicity

With our correspondent in Istanbul,

Josep Borrell had come to "  discuss the problems  " between Turkey and the European Union. Clearly, the discussion was heated. During the press conference, the two men answered, interrupted. The tone rose on the Turkish side.

Mevlüt Cavusoglu explored the subjects of contention: Turkey's candidacy for the EU at a standstill, the migration pact for which Ankara believes that Brussels has not fulfilled its part of the contract, or even Turkish gas drilling at off Cyprus, which Europe considers illegal. In this regard, new sanctions against Ankara could be voted on July 13, at a meeting of European foreign ministers.

Mevlüt Cavusoglu warned them: “  Sanctioning Turkey will not solve any problem, it will only deepen them. If the European Union announces other sanctions, we will have to respond. What will happen then? Tensions will increase.  "

This meeting will be held at the request of France, with which relations continue to deteriorate amid disagreement in Libya, where Ankara supports the government of national unity.

Unsurprisingly, the Turkish minister therefore had very harsh words against Paris, accusing him of supporting Marshal Khalifa Haftar: "  He is a putschist and I say it openly, France provides him with weapons and offers him all his support . But as it loses ground, it is more and more aggressive and tries to make Turkey pay the price.  "

Finally on the migration issue, the Turkish minister explained that his country would continue to "  no longer retain  " the refugees, if Europe did not keep its promises.

Newsletter Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

Follow all international news by downloading the RFI application

• Turkey
• European Union