Turkish Spokesman 'Europe losing relevance'

Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin described this week’s European Parliament decision as “scandalous” at a time when "Europe fails to address the real issues of growing racism, xenophobia, anti-immigration groups, radicalization, alienation and Islamophobia".

In a Saturday column for Turkish newspaper Daily Sabah, Kalin wrote: "With its internal problems, micro-nationalisms and the Brexit process, Europe is narrowing down its strategic outlook and losing its relevance."

Kalin said the MEPs’ decision on Nov. 24 to urge a suspension of EU membership talks with Turkey "should be seen within a larger framework of misplaced fears, old prejudices and political populism".

"Though legally non-binding, the decision reflects the toxic political climate in the EP and its narrow strategic outlook.

“It is fed by the growing anti-Turkish political populism in Europe. It reveals the old prejudices of the old continent against Turkey and Turks. But it is part of a new pattern that says more about the eclipse of the European political horizon than Turkey per se," he wrote.