Verheugen: “Türkiye needs clear messages from the EU”

Hurriyet Daily News - A top European Commission official expressed support for Türkiye’s European Union bid and criticized the Union for not giving the country a clear path towards membership. "The European Union has been giving conflicting messages to Türkiye for years", said Günter Verheugen, the European Commission Vice-President, according to Deutsche Welle's Turkish-language service. "This raises questions about whether the Union is honest to the Turks." Noting that Türkiye is providing the security for the southeastern flank of the European continent, Verheugen said the country’s accession to the EU is extremely important for Europe’s defense and energy security. Stressing that it is not possible for the EU to provide conveniences or impose extra conditions on Türkiye, Verheugen said that the EU negotiation process has already brought about a major political and social transformation in the country.