EU Minister Ömer Çelik’s Interview published in Reuters

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Ömer Çelik gave an interview to Reuters News Agency.

Türkiye would reject any offer of partnership with the European Union that falls short of membership, EU Minister Ömer Çelik said, warning that the current situation gave Türkiye no reason to maintain its migrant deal with the bloc.

"A privileged partnership or similar approaches, we don't take any of these seriously. Türkiye cannot be offered such a thing," EU Minister Ömer Celik told Reuters in an interview.

"Whatever it would be called, a privileged partnership or cooperation against terrorism, such an offer will not even be considered by Türkiye," he added.

EU Minister Ömer Çelik said the European Union was not honouring all parts of a deal to stem the flow of migrants westwards from Türkiye in return for 3 billion euros in financial aid to Türkiye and added "Technically there's no reason for Türkiye to maintain this deal."