Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Ankara is "tired" of its sluggish European Union membership process, noting that it cannot indefinitely be requesting to join the bloc.

His comments on Friday came during a visit to Paris, where he held talks with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron.

"We cannot continuously ask the EU, 'please take us, too' now," Erdogan said during a joint news conference, accusing the bloc of leaving Turkey "waiting outside the door" of the bloc for decades.

Turkey applied for membership in the European Economic Community, a precursor to the EU, in 1987. It became eligible for EU membership in 1997 and accession talks began in 2005. However, these negotiations have been practically frozen, with no progress made in recent years.

"When we ask for the reason, the EU cannot tell us. And, at first they were preventing us via 15 [EU policy] chapters; later the number of the chapters regarding us was increased to 35."

In order to become a member of the bloc, Turkey has to successfully conclude negotiations with the EU in 35 policy chapters that involve reforms and the adoption of European standards.

'Real focus' on Turkey-EU ties

Macron also struck a pessimistic tone about Turkey's stalled EU bid, saying the dialogue between the two sides should perhaps be "rethought ... not in the framework of membership but maybe

of cooperation or partnership".



"Recent developments and choices do not allow any progress," the French president said, noting, however, that "as France, we believe that future of Turkey and Turkish people should be in Europe".

A number of EU member states has condemned the Turkish government's arrests and purges of tens of thousands of people after a failed coup attempt in July 2016. Local and international rights groups have accused Ankara of using the putsch bid as a pretext to silence opposition in the country.

The government has said the purges and detentions are aimed at removing from state institutions and other parts of society the supporters of Fethullah Gulen, a US-based, self-exiled religious leader blamed by Ankara for the attempted coup.

"Turkey is ruled by law," Erdogan said at the press conference. "Europe always tells us that judiciary must be independent. Well, in Turkey, our judiciary is independent. They make their own decisions independently."

For his part, Macron said "democracy must be strong against terrorism because the legitimacy of the state means it must protect its citizens. But at the same time our democracies must respect the rule of law".

Erdogan's visit to France was his first since the failed coup attempt, and one of only a handful to Europe. He was confronted by a dozen human rights protesters who attempted to block his arrival to Elysee Palace.

Al Jazeera's Natacha Butler, reporting from Paris, said that "there was a real focus on Turkey's relationship with the EU, because it really has deteriorated over the past two years".

She added that Macron "raised the issue of human rights" but also noted that "he is very pragmatic".

"He [Macron] does not believe that that should necessarily get in the way of Turkey having a good relationship with France, and Turkey cooperating on issues such as controlling undocumented migration to Europe and the fight against terrorism,'" said Butler.</s>PARIS (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday he is "seriously tired" of waiting for the European Union to decide if it wants his country as a member.

Erdogan, who was in Paris for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron as part of efforts to improve his government's strained relationship with Europe, said Turkey won't wait forever.

"Unfortunately, we did the first steps in 1963, and it's now been 54 years that Turkey has been waiting in the antechamber of the EU," Erdogan said during a joint news conference with Macron. "We have been seriously tired, my nation, too."

Adding that frustration might tempt Turkey to turn its back to Europe, Erdogan said, "One cannot permanently implore and wait to be finally included."

Ties between Turkey and Europe deteriorated last year after authorities in several countries prevented Turkish government ministers from holding political rallies to court expatriates' votes in a referendum to expand the president's powers.

Erdogan unleashed a series of insults at NATO allies, accusing European officials of racism, harboring terrorists and behaving like Nazis.

Macron acknowledged that Turkey's EU accession talks remained stalled. He said the relationship between Europe and Turkey needed to be rethought with the goal of creating a partnership that would ensure Turkey's "future will be built looking toward Europe and with Europe."

The two leaders also discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the fight against terror and the war in Syria. France and Turkey also signed defense, banking and commercial deals, including the planned sale of 25 Airbus A330s to Turkish Airlines.

The trip was Erdogan's first to France since his government strongly cracked down on suspected opponents following a failed coup in July 2016. About 50,000 people have been arrested and 110,000 others removed from public sector jobs in Turkey.

Protests over deteriorating press freedom and human rights greeted the Turkish president upon his arrival.

About 30 activists from watchdog group Reporters without Borders held images of jailed journalists outside the Turkish Embassy. A dozen demonstrators, mainly ethnic Kurds, later tried to reach the presidential Elysee palace, but police pushed them back onto a side street.

The French Communist Party and several left-wing parties have criticized Erdogan's visit to France, which came the day before the fifth anniversary of the slayings in Paris of three Kurdish women activists.

"The French judicial system had pointed out Turkish secret services' involvement in this crime," the Communist Party said in a statement.

Macron said he raised the issues of media freedom and fundamental rights with Erdogan. He said he gave Erdogan a list of journalists and non-governmental organization workers he thinks were wrongly targeted during the post-coup crackdown.

"We will find concrete and real solutions that will allow the few cases to be settled, and to settle what has sometimes been a misunderstanding, a harmful misunderstanding," Macron said.

Erdogan responded that some "columnists and opinion leaders are the gardeners of terrorism."

While Erdogan traveled to Paris, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu is scheduled to meet with German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel on Saturday.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</s>Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday he is "seriously tired" of waiting for the European Union to decide if it wants his country as a member.

Erdogan, who was in Paris for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron as part of efforts to improve his government's strained relationship with Europe, said Turkey won't wait forever.

"Unfortunately, we did the first steps in 1963, and it's now been 54 years that Turkey has been waiting in the antechamber of the EU," Erdogan said during a joint news conference with Macron. "We have been seriously tired, my nation, too."

Adding that frustration might tempt Turkey to turn its back to Europe, Erdogan said, "One cannot permanently implore and wait to be finally included."

Ties between Turkey and Europe deteriorated last year after authorities in several countries prevented Turkish government ministers from holding political rallies to court expatriates' votes in a referendum to expand the president's powers.

Erdogan unleashed a series of insults at NATO allies, accusing European officials of racism, harboring terrorists and behaving like Nazis.

Macron acknowledged that Turkey's EU accession talks remained stalled. He said the relationship between Europe and Turkey needed to be rethought with the goal of creating a partnership that would ensure Turkey's "future will be built looking toward Europe and with Europe."

The two leaders also discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the fight against terror and the war in Syria. France and Turkey also signed defense, banking and commercial deals, including the planned sale of 25 Airbus A330s to Turkish Airlines.

The trip was Erdogan's first to France since his government strongly cracked down on suspected opponents following a failed coup in July 2016. About 50,000 people have been arrested and 110,000 others removed from public sector jobs in Turkey.

Protests over deteriorating press freedom and human rights greeted the Turkish president upon his arrival.

About 30 activists from watchdog group Reporters without Borders held images of jailed journalists outside the Turkish Embassy. A dozen demonstrators, mainly ethnic Kurds, later tried to reach the presidential Elysee palace, but police pushed them back onto a side street.

The French Communist Party and several left-wing parties have criticized Erdogan's visit to France, which came the day before the fifth anniversary of the slayings in Paris of three Kurdish women activists.

"The French judicial system had pointed out Turkish secret services' involvement in this crime," the Communist Party said in a statement.

Macron said he raised the issues of media freedom and fundamental rights with Erdogan. He said he gave Erdogan a list of journalists and non-governmental organization workers he thinks were wrongly targeted during the post-coup crackdown.

"We will find concrete and real solutions that will allow the few cases to be settled, and to settle what has sometimes been a misunderstanding, a harmful misunderstanding," Macron said.

Erdogan responded that some "columnists and opinion leaders are the gardeners of terrorism."

While Erdogan traveled to Paris, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu is scheduled to meet with German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel on Saturday.</s>President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he is tired of the sluggish European Union membership process and has accused the bloc of leaving his country waiting outside the door.

His comments were made on Friday during a visit to France where he discussed the system with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron.

In a joint news conference, he said: 'We cannot continuously ask the EU, 'please take us, too' now,' as he claimed the EU had left Turkey 'waiting outside the door' of the bloc for decades.

Turkey first applied for membership in the European Economic Community, a precursor to the EU, in 1987.

It became eligible for EU membership in 1997 with initial talks beginning in 2005.

However, negotiations have been frozen since with no progress made in recent years.

Speaking yesterday, he said: 'When we ask for the reason, the EU cannot tell us. And, at first they were preventing us via 15 chapters; later the number of the chapters regarding us was increased to 35.'

In order to become a member of the bloc, Turkey has to successfully conclude negotiations with the EU in 35 policy chapters that involve reforms and the adoption of European standards.

Ties between Turkey and Europe worsened last year amid mass arrests and firings carried out by Erdogan's government following a July 2016 coup attempt.

Relations deteriorated further after authorities in several countries prevented Turkish ministers from holding political rallies to court expatriates' votes in a referendum to expand the president's powers.

Erdogan unleashed a series of insults at NATO allies, accusing European officials of racism, harboring terrorists and behaving like Nazis.

The Turkish president was less bombastic, but just as emphatic, on Friday while discussing his country's decades-long pursuit of Europe's acceptance.

'Unfortunately, we did the first steps in 1963. And it's now been 54 years that Turkey has been waiting in the antechamber of the EU,' Erdogan said.

Macron said the two leaders held 'frank' talks on Turkey's bid for EU membership and the human rights situation in Turkey - a major sticking point.

'We should ... see if we cannot rethink this relationship, not in the framework of the (EU) integration process, but perhaps a cooperation, a partnership,' he said, adding the main goal must be to keep Turkey - a NATO member - 'anchored' in Europe and its 'future ... built looking toward Europe and with Europe.'

Macron and Erdogan also discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the fight against terror and the war in Syria. France and Turkish officials also signed defense, banking and commercial deals, including the planned sale of 25 Airbus A330s to Turkish Airlines.

The trip was Erdogan's first to France since his government strongly cracked down on suspected opponents following a failed coup in July 2016. About 50,000 people have been arrested and 110,000 others removed from public sector jobs in Turkey. Many have protested they are innocent.

Protests over deteriorating press freedoms and human rights abuses in Turkey greeted Erdogan upon his arrival.

About 30 activists from Reporters without Borders held images of jailed journalists outside the Turkish Embassy. A dozen demonstrators, mainly ethnic Kurds, later tried to reach the presidential Elysee palace, but police pushed them back.

The French Communist Party and several left-wing parties have criticized Erdogan's visit to France, which came the day before the fifth anniversary of the slayings in Paris of three Kurdish women activists.

'The French judicial system has pointed out Turkish secret services' involvement in this crime,' the Communist Party said.

Macron said he raised the issues of media freedom and fundamental human rights with Erdogan, giving the Turkish leader a list of journalists and non-governmental workers he thinks were wrongly targeted during the post-coup crackdown.

'We will find concrete and real solutions that will allow the few cases to be settled, and to settle what has sometimes been a misunderstanding, a harmful misunderstanding,' Macron said.

Erdogan responded that some 'columnists and opinion leaders are the gardeners of terrorism.'</s>The France Judicial Union has sent a mail to French President Emmanuel Macron, who is going to host Turkish autocratic President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday, and urged him to require the release of jailed lawyer Murat Arslan, the president of the now dissolved Association for the Union of Judges and Prosecutors (YARSAV) and his colleagues, ask for the presence of observers in future trials, the publication of the report of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture on Thursday.

The France Judicial Union’s open letter to Macron is as follow:

You will receive tomorrow Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Turkey.

We have already had the opportunity to alert you to the serious abuses that have hit this country since the failed coup d’etat of July 15, 2016, in particular the executive’s control over justice and the general degradation of the rule of law.

Under the guise of a state of emergency and the fight against terrorism, tens of thousands of people are victims of an arbitrary repression that continues to worsen and reaching all categories of the population: lawyers, journalists, teachers, academics , researchers … Thus at least 150,000 public officials have been dismissed, nearly 50,000 are in prison, more than 170 journalists are in detention, dozens of lawyers are incarcerated … As for our colleagues, judges and prosecutors, targets priority of this persecution, they are approximately 4,500 to be revoked and 2,500 imprisoned. This purge of justice aims to subordinate it to the executive power by stifling any desire for independence.

The Council of Europe, by awarding the fifth Václav Havel Human Rights Prize to our colleague Murat Arslan, president of the only independent judiciary association in Turkey, YARSAV, and detained for nearly 15 months, has both its extreme concern for the situation in Turkey and the importance of the independence of Justice in a democracy.

We do not dare to think that you will not talk with the President of a country still applying for membership of the European Union and a member of the Council of Europe, a situation that is detrimental to the rule of law and incompatible with the rule of law, the democratic values ​​of Europe. Require the release of Murat Arslan and his colleagues, ask for the presence of observers in future trials, the publication of the report of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, all topics that you will need to recall.

Our approach does not tend to break with the Turkish people and nation, but is a sign of our determination to put an end to the violations of the fundamental rights of Turkish citizens and our commitment to construction in Turkey, as in the rest of the world. Europe, of a serene future, in the fullness of a democracy leaving all its place to an impartial and independent justice.

We thank you, Mr President of the Republic, for the expression of our perfect consideration.”</s>Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he is "seriously tired" of waiting for the European Union to decide if it wants his country as a member.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he is "seriously tired" of waiting for the European Union to decide if it wants his country as a member.

Mr Macron confirmed that Turkey's wait for EU membership was far from over, and suggested a partnership in the meantime. The current process "does not allow for an outcome in the coming years," Mr Macron said during a joint news conference with Mr Erdogan, adding that stringing Turkey along was hypocritical.

Mr Erdogan made it plain that Turkey would not wait forever. "One cannot permanently implore and wait to be finally included," he said, adding that frustration might tempt Ankara to turn its back to Europe.

Ties between Turkey and Europe worsened last year amid mass arrests and firings carried out by Mr Erdogan's government following a July 2016 coup attempt. Relations deteriorated further after authorities in several countries prevented Turkish ministers from holding political rallies to court expatriates' votes in a referendum to expand the president's powers.

"Unfortunately, we did the first steps in 1963. And it's now been 54 years that Turkey has been waiting in the antechamber of the EU," Mr Erdogan said.

"We should... see if we cannot rethink this relationship, not in the framework of the (EU) integration process, but perhaps a cooperation, a partnership," he said, adding the main goal must be to keep Turkey - a Nato member - "anchored" in Europe and its "future... built looking towards Europe and with Europe". Mr Macron and Mr Erdogan also discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the fight against terror and the war in Syria.

France and Turkish officials also signed defence, banking and commercial deals, including the planned sale of 25 Airbus A330s to Turkish Airlines. The trip was Mr Erdogan's first to France since his government strongly cracked down on suspected opponents following the failed coup.

About 50,000 people have been arrested and 110,000 others removed from public sector jobs in Turkey. Many have protested they are innocent. Protests over deteriorating press freedoms and human rights abuses in Turkey greeted Mr Erdogan upon his arrival. About 30 activists from Reporters Without Borders held images of jailed journalists outside the Turkish embassy.

A dozen demonstrators, mainly ethnic Kurds, later tried to reach the presidential Elysee Palace, but police pushed them back. The French Communist Party and several left-wing parties have criticised Mr Erdogan's visit to France, which came the day before the fifth anniversary of the killings in Paris of three Kurdish women activists. "The French judicial system has pointed out Turkish secret services' involvement in this crime," the Communist Party said.

Mr Macron said he raised the issues of media freedom and fundamental human rights with Mr Erdogan, giving the Turkish leader a list of journalists and non-governmental workers he thinks were wrongly targeted during the post-coup crackdown. "We will find concrete and real solutions that will allow the few cases to be settled, and to settle what has sometimes been a misunderstanding, a harmful misunderstanding," Mr Macron said. Mr Erdogan responded that some "columnists and opinion leaders are the gardeners of terrorism".</s>President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is heading to the French capital today for an official visit, which will at the same time mark the priorities of Turkish diplomacy for the year 2018.

Meeting at Palais de l'Elysee, French President Emmanuel Macron and Erdoğan will discuss the Jerusalem conflict and Syria in addition to a long list of bilateral topics.

In the aftermath of Jerusalem diplomacy followed by Turkey soon after U.S. President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel, a serious base was established in the international spectrum for broader cooperation between states with a common vision regarding Jerusalem and problems in the Middle East.

Turkey and France are two countries that have a common vision on a number of issues such as Syria, Jerusalem and the fight against global terrorism.

The agreement between the two presidents also contributes a lot to relations between the two countries, as the two leaders are in contact regularly. During international summits, Erdoğan and Macron have found opportunities to meet head to head. Economic relations, namely energy and defense, compose an important element in bilateral relations. Some important defense industry deals and energy projects can be expected to be reached between Ankara and Paris, which can also be interpreted as an answer to allegations that Turkey had shifted to an axis with Russia in its defense industry.

The European Union is also one of the major topics of discussion between the two countries in light of recent efforts by Macron for EU reform. The migration issue also needs to be considered by the two politicians, since Turkey had a lot to share with France in the migration crisis.

As Macron plans to present a draft law on immigration in April, he is faced with serious protests in his country because of his tough stance on the issue.

To reduce the number of migrants arriving in his country, Macron had already taken preliminary actions to put a barrier in front of new arrivals. Lodging centers and refugee camps were dispersed by security forces, and even basic needs of the migrants, such as hygiene, were prevented from being met.

However, as the country with the most refugees in the world, Turkey has a lot to contribute to the French vision for refugees. In the final analysis, it is not only France, but also the totality of the EU that needs to cooperate with Turkey to tackle the crisis.

Another challenge that Macron faces this year is the fight against terrorism, for which collaboration with Turkey is, again, essential. Following a months-long state of emergency, Macron is working on new legislation regarding the fight against terrorism. The French president is very well aware of the importance of Turkey's role concerning the international war on terrorism.

Macron plans to visit a number of countries in the coming months in an attempt to conduct a multilateral foreign policy, according to French news reports. He will visit China soon after Erdoğan is in Paris, and he is also scheduling a trip to Iran. Russia is also among the countries Macron plans to visit. To become a key player regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, France's young leader will take more independent steps than his European colleagues. Putting the prejudices of his predecessors aside, Macron took the opportunity for a different approach in international politics.

Additionally, in the light of recent statements by Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu regarding Turkish-German relations in which he declared that Turkey wants to improve bilateral relations, we can talk about a new, positive phase in Berlin-Ankara interactions.

However, from the timing of the visit to the variety of topics to be discussed during the meetings, the rendezvous in Paris can become a starting point for the amelioration of ties not only between Ankara and Paris, but also for the EU and Turkey.

So, 2018 has begun with more hope for Turkey's relations with two key European countries and the EU in general. We have enough reasons to be optimistic, as Erdoğan has made positive remarks regarding the short-term future of Turkey's ties with Brussels and other EU capitals: "We would like to increase the number of our friends and reduce the number of enemies."
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan says he is "tired" of waiting for the European Union to approve Turkey's membership in the political union.