Austrian Parliament: Termination of EU Accession Negotiations with Turkey, Extension of Sanctions against Russia

PoliticsBrussels ♦ Published: June 21, 2019; 15:32 ♦ (Vindobona)

In a statement to the government, the EU Main Committee of the Austrian National Council has unanimously spoken out in favour of breaking off EU accession negotiations with Turkey. Instead, the parliamentary groups believe that a strategic partnership should be sought.

Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said that there was a clear line among EU foreign ministers to suspend accession negotiations with Turkey as the country on the Bosporus moves further and further away from the EU. / Picture: © Turkish and Austrian crossed flags by Vindobona

The binding Austrian negotiating position is argued with the worrying developments or human rights violations and the undemocratic approach since Recep Tayyip Erdogan took office in 2014.

It is also criticised that financial aid of more than €9 billion would be made available to Turkey for EU pre-accession assistance between 2007 and 2020, which would have no effect,…