European Union lawmakers are calling for a temporary halt to EU membership talks with Turkey because of Ankara's "disproportionate" reaction to July's failed coup, although EU governments are unlikely to take heed.
Members of the European Parliament voted 479 to 37 in favour of a non-binding motion urging the European Commission and national governments to institute what lawmakers acknowledge would be a largely symbolic freeze in negotiations that have been going on for 11 years but have long been stalled.
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said ties with the EU were already strained and that the vote was of no importance, echoing comments this week by President Tayyip Erdogan.
"We expect EU leaders to stand up against this lack of vision," he told reporters. "The EU should decide whether it wants to continue its future vision with or without Turkey."
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek said the vote would do nothing to encourage reforms, describing it on Twitter as populist and short-sighted.
Neither side expects Turkey to be in a position to join the EU for very many years to come.
"The European Parliament ... strongly condemns the disproportionate repressive measures taken in Turkey since the failed military coup attempt in July," the parliament motion read, although it added that it remained committed to keeping Turkey "anchored" to the EU.
More than 125,000 people - including soldiers, academics, judges, journalists and Kurdish leaders - have been detained or dismissed over their alleged backing for the July 15 coup attempt, in what opponents, rights groups and some Western allies say is an attempt to crush all dissent.
Reuters
