Turkey warns may cut relations with EU

The European Union must open new chapters in Turkey’s accession process otherwise Ankara has “nothing to discuss” with the union and will say “goodbye”, the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at a ceremony that marked his return to the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party yesterday.

His comments came after European Commissioner, Johannes Hahn, who oversees EU membership bids, told Reuters that Turkey under Erdogan had turned its back on joining the bloc.

Read: ‘We have reached the lowest point in our relationship with the EU’ says Turkey 

“From now on there is no option other than opening the chapters you have not yet opened. If you do not open [them], goodbye,” Erdogan warned during the ceremony.

Turkey applied to join the EU three decades ago and began negotiations in 2005. However, progress has been slow. Erdogan has said Turkey may hold a referendum on whether to continue with its membership efforts.