The European Union does not accept Turkey into its membership only because the republic is a Muslim country. The corresponding statement was made by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.
According to the position of Tayyip Erdogan, the current president of Turkey, the European Union does not intend to accept Turkey into its membership solely because the republic is a Muslim country. This became known from Erdogan’s speech, broadcast by the Turkish TV channel A Haber.
“The only reason why Turkey is not accepted into the EU is that we are a Muslim country. So let them say it directly then,” the Turkish president said.
It should be noted that earlier Erdogan has already stated that the Turkish people are already tired of constant negotiations with the European Union, and Ankara no longer intends to constantly beg for membership in the association. In addition, the Turkish president stated that the country he represents would not lose anything even if it did not become a full member of the EU.
Earlier, on February 3, Nathalie Loiseau, who is the Minister for European Affairs at the French Foreign Ministry, on the air of the radio station RTL, voiced the opinion that it is not possible for Paris to return to negotiations with Turkey regarding its entry into the European Union until Ankara is the choice was made in favor of a “democratic and pro-European” path of development.
Recall that Turkey, which has been an associate member of the European Union since 1964, filed an application for EU membership on April 14, 1987. The process of negotiations on its admission to the EU was launched on October 3, 2005. In order to formally join the union, Turkey must successfully negotiate with the European Commission at 33 out of 35 negotiation points, after which the EU countries must hold a vote, the result of which will be granting Turkey the status of a member of the European Union.
Source: Versia