EU struggles with split over Turkey membership bid

[FarCenter]

BRUSSELS (AFP) -
The European Union on Tuesday wrestled with a rift over Turkey's EU membership bid after Austria led calls for the accession process to be halted over Ankara's post-coup crackdown.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has lashed out at EU reluctance to revive membership talks and threatened to cancel a March deal which has curbed the mass influx of refugees and migrants into the 28-nation bloc.

Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, said ministers would try to close the gap during talks in Brussels on Tuesday.

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Kurz said that the Netherlands and Bulgaria share Austria's position. The European Parliament adopted a non-binding resolution last month calling for a freeze in membership talks over Turkey's crackdown.

http://www.france24.com/en/20161213-eu-struggles-with-split-over-turkey-membership-bid