Turkish leaders are ‘furious’ after European MPs voted to block Turkey from joining the EU after President Erdogan’s tyrannical crackdown on dissidents. The European Parliament voted to suspend Turkey’s EU membership bid after Erdogan began rounding up anti-government citizens following the failed attempted coup in July. Erdogan has dismissed the non-binding vote as “worthless” and accused the EU of supporting terrorists in response to their vote. BBC News reports: Turkey’s EU accession talks began in 2005, but only one of the 35 policy areas – called “chapters” – has been closed. A country is only ready to join the EU when it has met the criteria in all 35 chapters. MEPs say Thursday’s non-binding resolution aims to send a political message to President Erdogan. But it will fall on deaf ears, the BBC’s Mark Lowen reports from Istanbul. The resolution was passed by an overwhelming majority of MEPs, with 479 votes in favour and 37 against, with 107 abstentions. After the coup attempt by mutinous Turkish military officers Mr Erdogan accused the EU of siding with “terrorism” rather than supporting his country. Strategic ally MEPs are concerned about his crackdown on opponents. About 120,000 Turks have been dismissed or suspended from [...]
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