EU's tolerant and hypocritical stance on PKK terrorism draws Turkey's ire
Terror group PKK supporters hold flags with a photo of the group's imprisoned leader Abdullah in central Brussels, Belgium, November 17.

The EU's broad tolerance and indifferent attitude against terrorist organizations, particularly to the PKK, continue to be the main reason for strained relations with Ankara. Turkish politicians have highlighted dissident voices in Europe and called on the EU to cooperate on terrorism with Turkey instead of supporting it



While an anti-Turkey discourse by European politicians and the European Union's reckless attitude toward terrorist groups including the PKK continues, a soar in public opinion against the EU is being witnessed. Both Turkish politicians and people have been expressing their annoyance regarding the EU's double standards against terrorism.Despite Turkey's strong ties with the 28-member bloc in terms of economic relations, the EU's tolerance against terrorism and its criticism against Turkey regarding counterterror operations in its southeastern borders have heightened the tensions in the already strained diplomatic relations between the two sides.The PKK terror group has been freely holding rallies across European capitals, with the authorization of EU officials, despite the PKK being listed as a terror organization by the bloc. Also the EU turned a blind eye to the July 15 coup attempt by FETÖ in Turkey and lacked in taking measures against the network's members in EU cities.Speaking on the issue in a press meeting yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmuş said that European Parliament's resolution to freeze Turkey's full membership bid is important in terms of highlighting the increased effect of the far-right in EU politics."It is a visionless, hypocritical decision and we take it as null and void. The positive expressions in the leaders' meeting were important. The EU will be the side comes up as loser from deterioration of relations with Turkey," Kurtulmuş said.The deputy prime minister also said that Turkey was not the responsible side for current tensions and advised European policy-makers to take 'repairing' steps to develop friendly relations with Turkey.Kurtulmuş also evaluated latest court decisions that reversed the judgments against PKK members and freed them."The PKK committed many acts of terrorism in Europe. This is the reason the PKK was included on the list of terrorist organizations by the EU. I don't foresee the EU removing the PKK from the terror list. However, those are alarming [court] decisions for Europe," he concluded.Many supporters of the PKK, who flee from court warrants of Turkey, find asylum in European countries. The PKK, exploiting several nongovernmental organization fronts, is active in many European countries especially in Germany and Belgium. Turkey has often criticized European countries for offering a safe haven for supporters of the terrorist group as well as its active members.Case in point, the PKK had erected a tent in front of the European Council building in Brussels with the permission of the Belgian government to keep the tent up until the end of March.Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ also made comments about the latest developments on Turkey's EU relations and said that since the EU is seen as a 'safe shelter' for the people who operate and speak against Turkey, the union has no right to dictate to Turkey anything.Bozdağ took to Twitter on Sunday, tweeting about the issue words saying that, "Everyone should know that Turkey gives its decisions for today and tomorrow by itself, and will move forward with stronger steps."Bozdağ also came up against opposition parties, by saying that they blamed Turkey for freezing of accession talks instead of the EU, which made Turkey wait at its doors for 53 years with its hypocritical policies.Meanwhile, Austria's Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz asserted that a cyberattack on the Foreign Ministry's website was from Turkey, adding that those kinds of attacks would not change their policy toward Turkey.Last week the Austrian parliament adopted a motion which imposed an arms export embargo on Turkey. However, Turkish officials and experts said Austria's embargo would have no negative impact on Turkey since Austria is not the only country Turkey conducts its business, with Ankara also exporting arms from Vienna.