Erdogan: "we have been waiting for more than 50 years to join the European Union"

Erdogan: "we have been waiting for more than 50 years to join the European Union"

“First we open the way for Turkey's accession to the European Union and then we will open it for Sweden in NATO just as we opened it for Finland. In this regard, last night (July 9, NDR) I said the same things to Joe Biden and I will have to make the same remarks in Vilnius too. On this occasion I would like to highlight a fact. Turkey has been waiting at the gates of the European Union for more than 50 years. Currently almost all NATO member countries are members of the European Union. I address these countries that have been making Turkey wait at the gates of the European Union for more than 50 years and I will address them again in Vilnius". These are the words of the Turkish President Erdoğan.

“It is no surprise to say that the two processes are separate. The EU has a very structured enlargement process, and the different steps must be fulfilled by each candidate. It's a process that looks at merit. This process cannot be tied” to that of Sweden's membership in NATO. “The two processes can only be separated.” The spokesperson of the EU Commission said this, Dana Spinant, during the daily briefing, responding to a question on Turkish President Recep Tayyp Erdogan's statements, according to which Ankara will open up to Sweden in NATO if the EU opens its doors to Turkey.