Diverse Reactions from EU Members to Request for Halting Negotiations with Turkey

The position announced by German Chancellor Angela Merkel to halt negotiations with Turkey regarding its accession to the European Union has elicited varied reactions from foreign ministers of EU member states, with Finland and Lithuania rejecting it. Merkel stated her stance on Turkey's EU membership during a televised debate with her main rival for the German parliamentary elections, emphasizing that she has never considered Turkey's membership feasible. She also mentioned that she would discuss the end of negotiations with her European counterparts. However, a Reuters report indicates that some foreign ministers of EU member states expressed their opposition to this request during a meeting held on Thursday, September 7, in Estonia. According to the report, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius told reporters, "No, we should continue this process [negotiations with Turkey]. It's not simple, but we must value these contacts." He added, "By stopping these negotiations, we encourage them to drift further away. I think the impact of this action is the opposite of what we want." Tensions between Berlin and Ankara have been escalating in recent months. Turkey recently detained two more German citizens, bringing the total number of German detainees in the country to 12, which provoked anger in Berlin. Reuters reports that German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, who traveled to Estonia for the EU foreign ministers' meeting, emphasized that it is Turkey itself that is increasingly distancing itself from the EU. The report also mentions that the Austrian Foreign Minister supported Germany's position on this matter and called for halting negotiations with Turkey. On the other hand, Estonian Foreign Minister Sven Mikser stated, "We must proceed very cautiously and, while discussing Turkey's candidacy, we must also consider future relations in every respect." Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron, in an interview with a Greek newspaper, deemed the EU's relationship with Turkey important and emphasized the continuation of this relationship. Macron stated, "Turkey has actually deviated from the path the EU is taking in recent months and is alarmingly violating its principles, which cannot be ignored." He continued, "However, I want this rift not to occur because Turkey is an important partner in many crises we all face, including migration challenges and terrorist threats." Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan previously emphasized that Ankara is not willing to join the EU "at any cost" and could instead join other unions such as the Shanghai Organization.