"Despite recent harsh statements in the press, the EU-Turkey statement continues to work. European Union is and remains committed to the full implementation of all its elements," Avramopoulos said at a press conference.
Avramopoulos noted that both sides were interested in strengthening bilateral relations and maintaining the migration treaty.
"The partnership between the European Union and Turkey is long-standing and goes beyond migration. It is to the interest and benefit of both to maintain and strengthen it," Avramopoulos said.
The relations between the Turkey and a number of the European countries, particularly, Germany, worsened recently after German-Turkish journalist Deniz Yucel was arrested in Istanbul in February over alleged links to a terrorist organization and terrorist propaganda, while several Ankara's pre-referendum rallies, aimed at gaining support from Turkish expats for a constitutional change increasing the president's powers, were canceled in Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. In response to the rally bans, Erdogan compared German and later Dutch authorities to Nazis.
