Turkey-EU accession process has been discussed at the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg.

In its conclusions the Council notes that “Turkey has been moving further away from the European Union” and therefore Turkey’s negotiations have “effectively come to a standstill and no further chapter can be considered.”

The Council at the same time “reaffirms the importance it attaches to EU relations with Turkey, a key partner” and remains committed to maintaining an open and frank dialogue, to addressing common challenges and to cooperating in essential areas of joint interest such as migration, counter-terrorism, energy, transport, economy and trade.”

The Council recalled its conclusions on 18 July 2016, which “immediately and strongly condemned the15 July coup attempt and expressed solidarity with the Turkish people and full support for the democratic institutions of Turkey. However, the disproportionate scale and scope of measures taken in its aftermath raise serious concern. The Council recalls the international standards and the obligations to which Turkey has subscribed and committed itself, and calls on Turkey to urgently reverse the negative trends.”

The Council reiterated its concern about the “continuing and deeply worrying backsliding on the rule of law and on fundamental rights including the freedom of expression. The deterioration of the independence and functioning of the judiciary cannot be condoned, nor can the ongoing restrictions, detentions, imprisonments, and other measures targeting journalists, academics, members of political parties including parliamentarians, human rights defenders, social media users and others exercising their fundamental rights and freedoms.”