ANKARA (Sputnik) — On November 9, the EC published the annual Turkey 2016 Report, stressing that Turkey's efforts on achieving compliance with EU legislative standards, necessary for joining the European Union were insufficient. According to the report, Turkey should be devoting more attention to the implementation of the legislation.
"This report is one-sided, it contains unacceptable wording… We are ready to accept constructive criticism, but reports that drive Turkey into a corner could not be accepted," Kurtulmus said at a press conference in Ankara.
At the same time, UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson told journalists on Monday that Turkey is in "a very difficult situation" after a failed coup attempt and it was necessary not to overreact when it comes to EU-Turkish relations.
"Turkey remains a matter of some concern. It is very important that we should not push Turkey into a corner, we should not overreact in a way that I think is against our collective interest," Johnson said before a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers.
He added that EU member-states were planning to discuss with Turkey common security policy "to take forward European defense cooperation."
In mid-March, the European Union agreed to intensify the talks in exchange for Turkish agreement to help reduce the flow of migrants to Europe.
On July 15, a military coup attempt took place in Turkey. It was suppressed the following day. Over 240 people were killed during the thwarted coup and an estimated 2,000 were wounded. Ankara accused Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, who has been living in the US state of Pennsylvania since 1999, and his followers of playing a key role in the coup. Gulen himself denounced the rebellion and declared his innocence. Since July Turkey has arrested hundreds of military personnel, activists and journalists on suspicion of links with Gulen.
On Saturday, European Parliament President Martin Schulz threatened Turkey with economic sanctions amid the arrests of opposition politicians and journalists in the country.
