By Ahval
The leading candidate to become the European Commission’s next leader has said he wants to end Turkey’s more than three decades-long EU membership bid if elected as Commission president next year, independent news site Diken reported.
German politician Manfred Weber, who currently serves as the head of the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) which is the largest group in European Parliament, has been vocal on where he stands regarding Turkey’s inclusion in the 28-member bloc.
“As the European Commission chairman hopeful I would exert efforts to end talks for Turkey’s EU membership,’’ Weber, who is vying to take over the seat from Jean-Claude Juncker as Europe’s most powerful official leading its executive branch, said in response to a question as to what sets him apart from other candidates.
Both France and Germany have recently voiced strong opposition to Turkey’s moves to join the EU, which began in in 2005.
The European Commission’s annual report published in April gave Turkey a scathing review, concluding that the rule of law, democracy, and human rights in Turkey had continued to backslide.
