Merkel Seeks to Cut Turkish Accession Funding
- Chancellor cites German concerns over crackdown on democracy
- EU funding for EU-Turkey accord over refugees should stay
Angela Merkel in Brussels, Belgium, on Oct. 19, 2017.
Photographer: Jasper Juinen/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the European Union may cut pre-accession funding to Turkey as a response to the country’s crackdown on its democratic institutions, while insisting that the bloc should strive not to cut all ties with Ankara.
Speaking at a two-day meeting of EU leaders in Brussels, Merkel said consensus has been reached to cut back “responsibly” on the 4.5 billion euros ($5.3 billion) in aid allocated to Turkey’s bid to join the 28-member bloc. The funds the EU pledged as part of a refugee accord with Turkey should stay in place, she said.