Turkish leader calls for answer on joining EU

Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged European Union leaders to simply say whether they want to accept Turkey as a member or not.

The country’s decades of efforts to join the 28-member European club seem to be stalled by the government’s harsh reaction to a coup attempt last year.

Tens of thousands of people have been arrested or dismissed from their jobs in Turkey since the July 2016 coup attempt.

“I would like to hear a clear declaration,” Mr Erdogan said yesterday during a visit to Poland. “If you want to accept Turkey, just do it. If you don’t want to, just tell that.”

Polish president Andrzej Duda said Poland backed Turkey’s effort to join the EU. “Poland has supported and supports today Turkey’s efforts to join,” he said.