Hahn: EU seeks new forms of partnership with Turkey

Turkey was officially declared an EU membership candidate in 1999, but negotiations have stalled amid EU criticism of human rights violations in Turkey and Ankara's controversial rhetoric to some EU member states, which it has compared to Nazi Germany.

However, recently, Turkey has sought to improve ties with European countries.

” The EU should seek other forms of strategic partnership with Ankara”, Hahn said.

He backed French President Emmanuel Macron's call this month directed to the union to review relations with Turkey.

In recent years, Brussels and Ankara have co-operated in the area of migration, where Turkey has provided its assistance to prevent the movement of migrants to Europe in exchange for EU financing among many other agreements.

“The EU promised an initial fund worth $3 billion ($64 billion) to support refugees in Turkey who have been fully distributed”, Hahn said.

Also, the EU promised during the 2016 agreement that it would consider funding another 3 billion euros if necessary.

But countries such as Germany, France, Austria and Sweden have been reluctant to back the bill, demanding that any additional funds be released from EU funds.

This would be impossible and wrong. They have to tell me where this money will come from, or rather, in which other partner countries we have to make cuts”, the Austrian politician added. /Periscopi/