The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said on Monday that the EU recognizes the PKK as a terror group for its activities both in and outside of the borders of the European Union.
Speaking to reporters after the EU Foreign Ministers meeting, "Today is the day of solidarity both in words and in action," Mogherini said.
Mogherini made the comments upon a question on whether EU's actions matched its discourse regarding solidarity with Turkey against the PKK terrorist group.
"As you know very well, for the EU, the PKK is a terrorist organization from all perspectives. We see the PKK as a terrorist group for its activities both in and outside the EU and we remain loyal to this," Mogherini said and added that the terror issue will be discussed with Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu during the EU Council meeting.
Despite being listed as a terrorist group by the EU, the PKK continues its activities in European countries, such as Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, and Greece. In addition, PKK members attend to European Parliament meetings from time to time.
Meanwhile, the PKK also continues its activities which provide the group with financial support within the borders of the European Union.
At least 37 died of injuries suffered in Sunday's suicide car-bomb attack in the capital. The attack comes less than a month after the last major car bombing in Ankara (which left 30 people dead), and five months after twin suicide bombings in October, the deadliest attack in Turkish history.
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said that 37 people were announced dead after the attack with the bodies of 35 victims handed over to their families. Davutoğlu also noted that one of the two remaining bodies belongs to the identified terrorist and the other is believed to be the co-conspirator of the identified terrorist.
On Monday, Turkish security officials reportedly told Reuters that a female member of the PKK terrorist organization was one of two suspected perpetrators of the Ankara attack.
Evidence has been obtained that one of the bombers (named Seher Çağla Demir) was a female member of the PKK who joined the militant group in 2013, the security officials reportedly said. She was born in 1992 and was from the eastern Turkish city of Kars, they said.
Renewed violence in Turkey has come in the wake of the July 20 Suruç bombing which was allegedly carried out by Daesh and left dozens of people dead. The subsequent PKK-linked murder of two Turkish police officers at their home sparked a new wave of conflict in the country.
The Turkish government has intensified its counterterror operations following the recent attacks carried out by the PKK, which is recognized as a terrorist organization by the U.S., the EU and Turkey.
