Regarding the statement of Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan that if no liberalisation is guaranteed, Turkey wouldn’t fulfil the obligations it acquired towards the EU on 18 March, 2016, PES President Sergei Stanishev said:
“We have to remind Turkey that the negotiation process towards a visa liberalisation for Turkish citizens is conditional on positive developments on Human Rights and civil and political rights in Turkey. The expectation that we will give Turkey a blank cheque in return for its commitment in resettling refugees from Greece is purely delusional.”
The PES thinks that the EU shouldn’t accept any sort of blackmail from Turkey and must adopt a tough line in the ongoing negotiations. Stanishev said:
“The PES remains committed to this negotiation process for the sake of Turkish democracy and Turkish citizens. We need the same kind of commitment from the Turkish side or we will jeopardise the agreement from 18 March.“
