The restoration of the death penalty in Turkey is “red line”.
The European Union should continue the accession negotiations with Turkey, but Ankara’s resumption of the death penalty will put an end to the process. This was stated by the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, Euractiv reports.
Turkey abolished the death penalty in 2004 in the campaign for EU membership.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he will approve its recovery, if the Parliament will come up with a proposal or if this measure will support the referendum.
“I did not believe that the accession negotiations with Turkey should be currently stopped”, – said Juncker.
He also said that during a long conversation with Erdogan made it clear that the restoration of the death penalty in Turkey is “red line” in the accession talks.
“I told him, if you again restore the death penalty, then the negotiations will end,” – said Juncker.
Earlier, German Chancellor Angela Merkel stated that Europe and Turkey should not completely turn away from each other, but the introduction by Ankara of the death penalty will mean the end of dialogue on Turkey’s membership in the EU.
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