The interview came after Brussels and Ankara agreed in March on a deal under which Turkey pledged to take back all undocumented migrants who arrive in the EU through its territory in exchange for asylum seekers from Syria, on a one-for-one basis.
In return, the EU pledged to provide a total of 3 billion euros (over 3.3 billion dollars) to Turkey to help it provide for the refugees there, with a further 3 billion-euro provision possible, as well promising to accelerate Ankara's EU accession bid and introduce a visa-free regime between Turkey and Europe.
"Obviously, until problems concerning the oppression of Kurds and the situation on Syrian refugees are resolved, Turkey will not be able to move forward on the path of European integration," Turkdogan said.
He also slammed the Turkey-EU deal as "an absolutely politicized document which runs counter to human rights."
@gavthebrexit Turkey was years from ever joining EU due to their economy and human rights violations. What's changed?
— kingisgod (@biggersi) 19 апреля 2016 г.
Additionally, Turkogan mentioned "the Kurdish problem" and another one related to "authoritarianism in Turkey," something that he said prevents Ankara from making progress in talks on its access to the EU.
"After the June 7, 2015 parliamentary elections in Turkey, we actually witnessed the [instigation of a] presidential regime there, with serious restrictions related to freedom of speech and press. Journalists, academics, rights activists and writers [have] come under strong pressure amid systematic violations of other human rights and freedoms, which is a serious obstacle to joining the EU," he pointed out.
Juncker made the comment after Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu warned that he will tear up the controversial EU-Turkish migrant deal unless his citizens are given visa-free access to the EU in June, in a move which is expected to put further pressure on EU leaders.
