Austria Will Block Turkey-EU Further Accessions Talks

• 12.12.2016, 21:18
•  Europe,  Region

Reuters

Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz declared that Vienna will block Turkey-EU further accessions talks over Ankara’s post-coup human rights violations track record, Press TV reports.

"The European Parliament has adopted a courageous and correct resolution demanding that the accession negotiations with Turkey be frozen. In the conclusions of the Foreign Ministers, there must also be a reaction to developments in Turkey. We must also propose that the accession talks be frozen," he said.

On November 24, the European Parliament voted in favor of halting membership talks with Turkey over Ankara’s heavy-handed crackdown following a failed coup in mid-July. Re-starting the talks is set to be debated during a European Council meeting set for mid-December.

Before the meeting, the EU’s General Affairs Council of foreign ministers will convene to discuss the topic of re-initiating Turkey’s accession talks.