The conservative European People’s Party leader in the European Parliament has said that the basis for cooperation between the EU and Turkey was at risk.

The lawmaker noted this following the imprisonment of Turkish opposition politician Ekrem İmamoğlu.

”The EU wants a close partnership with Turkey, but that can only work on the basis of shared values,” EPP leader Manfred Weber told dpa.

He added that using the judiciary as a political weapon was incompatible with these values.

Mr Weber accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of leading the country on the wrong track, adding that the rule of law and democracy in Turkey were at risk.

Mr İmamoğlu, a key rival of Mr Erdoğan, was jailed on Sunday over corruption charges and is facing a separate probe over terror allegations.

He denied the charges. On Sunday, he was also temporarily suspended as mayor of Istanbul.

Despite his imprisonment, Turkey’s main opposition party, the secular CHP, named Mr İmamoğlu its presidential candidate on Sunday.

In the EU, the possible cancellation of planned talks on expanding cooperation with Turkey was discussed in light of the recent developments.

The talks had been announced by EU commission president Ursula von der Leyen just days before İmamoğlu’s arrest.

According to available information, preparations had been made for an EU-Turkey dialogue on economic issues in April and another on migration and security.

The plans were based on a mandate from EU heads of state and government at a summit in April 2024.

There, it was agreed that relations with Turkey should be strengthened if possible, particularly given Turkey’s key role in stabilising the eastern Mediterranean and addressing migration challenges.

Previously, initiatives such as the modernisation of the customs union and visa liberalisation had been put on hold due to concerns over the rule of law, fundamental rights and freedom of expression in Turkey. 

(dpa/NAN)