Even though money has not been flowing to Ankara as promised, Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Vice Chairman Julia Klöckner has called for the European Union to halt accession funds to Turkey.
Speaking to the Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Klöckner contended the money planned to be sent to Turkey was aimed at strengthening democracy, but "the country is on course to go in the exact opposite direction."
Despite the EU pledging in September 2014 to provide pre-accession assistance for Turkey, 4.4 billion euros covering the period of 2014-2020, to support reforms in the "enlargement countries" with financial and technical help throughout the accession process, the bloc has transferred only a small amount of the pledged money so far.
As well as the accession fund, the EU has failed to deliver a 6-billion euro aid package to help the millions of Syrian refugees in Turkey and only about 700 million euros have been delivered so far.
Klöckner added that despite the tension between the countries, it would not be the right choice to "close doors and end communication."
Berlin-Ankara relations have recently been strained over several issues.
Ankara refused German lawmakers permission to visit German soldiers stationed at the İncirlik Air Base due to controversial statements made by lawmakers from the socialist Die Linke (The Left) party, which had announced its support for the PKK, a commonly listed terrorist organization by Turkey, the EU and U.S.Ankara also has long criticized Germany for not taking serious measures against the PKK, which carries out propaganda, recruitment and fundraising activities in the country.
Germany outlawed the PKK in 1993, but authorities in Berlin have been reluctant to take strong measures against the terrorist group's activities despite repeated warnings from Ankara.
The German government decided to transfer its refueling and reconnaissance aircraft from İncirlik Air Base out of Turkey to Azraq, Jordan, after tensions between the two countries rose in late May.
The move was believe to be in response to Germany's position on Turkish deputies during the recent constitutional referendum period when Turkish officials were barred from holding rallies in Germany, drawing strong reactions from Ankara.
