Erdogan: EU expansion without Turkey 'grave mistake'

By Mehmet Tosun and Mumin Altas

VARNA (AA) - Turkey's president on Monday said that it would be a "grave mistake" for Europe to push Turkey out of its expansion policy.

"It would be a grave mistake for Europe, which claims to be a global force, to push Turkey out of its expansion policy," Erdogan said during a joint news conference of the Turkey-EU summit in Bulgaria's city of Varna.

"Our operations against terrorism not only to contribute to the security of ourselves and the Syrians, but also to the security of Europe," he said.

“We now expect strong support [from Europe] on sensitive issues such as the fight against terrorism instead of rambling and unjust criticism,” he added.

Additionally Erdogan said Ankara was hoping the process to update the customs union with the EU to begin.

The summit was held under the leadership of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, European Council President Donald Tusk and EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in Varna, Bulgaria.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov hosted the summit as chairman of the EU Council.