After the re-election of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the leader of the European People’s Party, Manfred Weber, spoke out in favor of ending Turkey’s EU accession process.

“The last few years have shown that a close partnership is important, but nobody wants full membership of Turkey in the EU anymore – neither Turkey nor the EU,” the CSU politician told the newspapers of the Funke media group (Monday). “We have to put this process aside because it blocks better relationships more than it supports it.”

The expectations after Erdogan’s election victory are clear, said Weber. “We need cooperation, especially when it comes to the goal of peace between Ukraine and Russia, migration policy, economic modernization and the Cyprus question. Erdogan should now immediately agree to Sweden’s membership in NATO.”