Turkey lashed out at the “absolutely unacceptable" vote by the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee calling for the end of talks about Ankara’s Brussels membership. EU MEPs called on the European Commission to formally suspend EU accession negotiations with Turkey, citing disregard for human rights and civil liberties, influence on the judiciary, and disputes over territory with Cyprus and other neighbours.
But Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy hit back in a fiery statement, saying: ”It is absolutely unacceptable that the non-binding, advisory draft report is calling for a total suspension of our accession talks to the EU.
"We expect the necessary corrections to be made and the final report to be more realistic, impartial and encouraging.
“Only such a report will be taken into consideration by our country."
Turkey says EU membership remains one of its top strategic goals even though the accession talks, formally launched in 2004, have been stalled for years.
Some EU leaders and officials have called for them to be ended.
Kati Piri, EU Rapporteur on Turkey, tweeted: "My expectation is that in two weeks a large majority of the EP
