![Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim (R) meets German Minister of Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier (L) at official mansion of the Turkish Prime Ministry in Ankara, Turkey on November 15 2016 [Hakan Göktepe/Anadolu]](https://i0.wp.com/d2.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/2016_11_15-Turkish-Prime-Minister-Binali-Yildirim-R-meets-German-Minister-of-Foreign-Affairs-Frank-Walter-Steinmeier-1.jpg?fit=920%2C613&ssl=1)
The European Union should decide between Turkey and its enemies, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said today, adding that Brussels should not expect Ankara to change its anti-terror laws.
Yildirim made the comment in a televised speech to members of his ruling Justice and Development Party in parliament. They coincided with an official visit by German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
“It cannot be expected for us to stop our fight against terror or take a step back.” Yildirim said. “EU ambassadors cannot decide how the law will work in Turkey.”
The EU published a highly critical report last week that made clear Turkey’s prospects of joining the 28-nation bloc have become more distant. “The latest report published by the EU has both saddened and disturbed us,” Yildirim said.
Relations between Turkey, a candidate for EU membership, and Brussels have been strained following an attempted coup in July. European leaders are worried that Ankara is using the failed putsch as a pretext to clamp down on dissent. Turkey, meanwhile, has been angered by what it sees as a lack of solidarity following the coup.