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Austria remains opposed to EU membership talks with Turkey
VIENNA – Austria’s chancellor says he remains in favour of ending EU membership talks with Turkey, despite opposition from senior EU leaders, and is looking for support for his views within the 28-nation union.
Christian Kern’s initial call to stop the negotiations earlier this month was rejected by EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker as well as German and other EU government officials.
While critical of what they view as Turkey’s eroding human rights, they fear for the future of a deal obliging Ankara to take back migrants arriving on Greek islands in exchange for funding to help care for refugees and visa-free travel in the EU for Turks.
Kern said Wednesday that the EU “cannot accept someone who does not honour democratic standards.”
Turkey has harshly criticized the Austrian leader’s views.
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