French president: Turkey is a ‘key partner’ of the EU

French President Emmanuel Macron has called to avoid breaking ties between the EU and Turkey, which he described as a “key partner” in many crises.

In an interview published in the Greek daily Kathimerini yesterday, Macron said: “Turkey has itself shifted away from the European Union in recent months, with worrying excesses that cannot be without consequence, such as on the project regarding the customs union, for example.”

I would rather avoid burning bridges as it is an essential partner in many crises that we are facing together, such as the migration challenge and the terrorist threat. 

Macron began a two-day visit to Greece yesterday where he will meet Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos and Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Sunday that she intends to discuss the suspension of Turkey’s accession negotiations with the European Union, saying she does not believe the accession is a possibility.

Read: Court: EU states must take in refugees

“It is clear that Turkey should not become a member of the European Union,” Merkel said during a televised debate with Martin Schulz, her rival in the upcoming elections.

The EU and Turkey reached an agreement which stemmed the flow of refugees and migrants into Greece. The recent political strife between some European countries and Turkey threaten to bring the agreement to an end.