- Title: Top EU officials condemn Turkish remarks about Dutch, German "fascism"
- Date: 15th March 2017
- Summary: STRASBOURG, FRANCE (FILE) (REUTERS) MEMBER STATE FLAGS FLYING OUTSIDE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT CIRCULAR FACADE
- Embargoed: 29th March 2017 13:24
- Keywords: EU Netherlands Turkey referendum Tusk Juncker Erdogan Rotterdam
- Location: STRASBOURG, FRANCE
- City: STRASBOURG, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: European Union,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001682MJWN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The European Union's top officials sharply criticised Turkey on Wednesday (March 15) for accusing EU states Germany and the Netherlands of fascism, saying the charges were driving Ankara further away from its goal of joining the bloc.
A war of words between Turkey and the EU has erupted this month over planned rallies by Turkish politicians in Rotterdam and other European cities that aimed to drum up support for plans to give Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan sweeping new powers.
The Netherlands cancelled the Rotterdam rally, prompting Erdogan to brand the country as "Nazi remnants". He has also accused Germany, which has also cancelled several planned Turkish rallies, of "fascist actions" reminiscent of the Nazi era and has said "Nazism is still widespread in the West".
European Council President Donald Tusk, speaking in English and Dutch, told a plenary session of the European Parliament that Turkey's comments were unacceptable.
Tusk's remarks were echoed by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, who told parliament he was "scandalised" by the Turkish accusations about fascism and Nazism.
Erdogan, who survived a military coup last summer, has defended his plans to amass greater powers in a referendum set for April 16, saying Turkey needs greater stability. But his crackdown on dissenting voices among the judiciary and the media since the failed coup has drawn strong criticism in the West.
But the EU is caught between holding Erdogan accountable and guaranteeing the continuation of a deal to control the flow of refugees and migrants who pass through Turkey to Europe. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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