European Union slaps down 'excessive' Turkey in Erdoğan Nazi row

The European Union urged Turkey to avoid "excessive statements" and actions that could increase tensions, in a row with the Netherlands and Germany
Monday, 13 March 2017 17:55

The European Union has called on Turkey to cease "excessive statements" after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made several Nazi comparisons with EU member states Germany and the Netherlands in recent days.

Erdoğan at the weekend twice accused Netherlands of acting like the Nazis, comments that sparked outrage in a country bombed and occupied by German forces in World War II. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who faces a major challenge from the far-right in a key general election Wednesday, said Erdoğan's comments were unacceptable and it was Ankara that should apologise.

In an escalating standoff that risks damaging Turkey's already deteriorating relations with the European Union ahead of the April 16 referendum on constitutional change, Brussels sternly warned Ankara to avoid making the situation worse.

In an apparent reference to Erdoğan's comments, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn called on Turkey to "refrain from excessive statements and actions that risk further exacerbating the situation.

"The European Union calls on Turkey to refrain from excessive statements and actions that risk further exacerbating the situation," EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn said in a statement.

"Following the tensions of these last days between Turkey and some EU member states, it is essential to avoid further escalation and find ways to calm down the situation," it added.

"Decisions with regard to the holding of meetings and rallies in member states are a matter for the member state concerned, in accordance with the applicable provisions of international and national law."

EU spokesman Margaritis Schinas said: "The EU calls on Turkey to refrain from excessive statements and actions that risk further acerbate the situation."

Schinas said that "matters of concern can only be resolved through open and direct communication channels."

He added that it is "essential to avoid further escalation and find ways to calm down the situation."

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg also urged Turkey and its NATO allies to "show mutual respect, to be calm and have a measured approach to contribute to de-escalating the tensions".