Since 24 October, many European leaders have condemned the words of the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, to his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron. On Saturday 24 October, Mr Erdoğan questioned Mr Macron’s mental health, reproaching him for his attitude towards Muslims following the beheading by an Islamist extremist of a teacher, Samuel Paty, on 16 October in France.
The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, without referring to France, noted on Twitter that “rather than a positive agenda, Turkey chooses provocations, unilateral actions in the Mediterranean and now insults. This is intolerable. Respect for Europe and its Member States”, he stressed.
The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, described the comments made by Mr Erdoğan as “unacceptable”, calling on Ankara to “stop this dangerous spiral of confrontation”. He also recalled that the conclusions of the European Council of 1 and 2 October contained a real offer to revive the relationship between the EU and Turkey, “but there must be political will on the part of the Turkish authorities on this positive agenda. Otherwise, Turkey will be even more isolated”, he warned.
Taking up Mr Borrell’s tweet, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stated that Europeans stood by France’s side following the terrorist attack that claimed Samuel Paty’s life.
European leaders have planned to discuss again, by December at the latest, the stance to be taken towards Turkey (see EUROPE 12572/1). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)