President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned on Tuesday that Turkey would bring the curtain down on its over half-century bid to join the European Union if new accession chapters were not opened. Erdogan's threat to say "goodbye" to the EU came just minutes after he rejoined Turkey's ruling party in the first major change to take effect following a controversial vote to boost his powers.
Relations between Ankara and Brussels have tumbled to unprecedented lows following a failed military coup against Erdogan in July. The EU is troubled by the state of human rights in Turkey, particularly after widespread purges, while Ankara has lashed out at what it sees as a lack of solidarity from the bloc.
Erdogan last month narrowly won a referendum on sweeping consitutional changes to create a presidential system. But the victory was contested by the opposition and received only the most tepid of welcomes in Brussels. "There is no option other than opening chapters that you have not opened until now," Erdogan said, referring to the individual policy areas that need to be concluded before Turkey joins the EU.
"If you open, then great. If you don't open, then goodbye," Erdogan said. "Turkey is not their (the EU's) doorman." Sixteen chapters have been opened out of a total of 35 since accession talks began in October 2005, although Turkey's bid to be a part of the bloc dates back to the 1960s.
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