News - Middle East: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey says Brussels should facilitate the country's accession to the European Union (EU) before Ankara moves to approve Sweden's bid to join NATO.

At a press conference on Monday and shortly before setting out for a major NATO summit in Lithuania, Erdogan, in an unexpected move, said he would urge the summit to open a path for Ankara's EU membership.

"Almost all of the NATO member countries are now members of the EU. I am calling out to these countries that have kept Turkey waiting at the door of the EU for more than 50 years, but I will also call out to Vilnius," the recently-reelected Turkish president said.

The 12-year accession talks were effectively halted after Turkey began a massive crackdown on suspects in connection with a failed military coup in mid-July 2016. The EU reacted strongly to Ankara’s purging of thousands of people from organizations and institutions over alleged links to the coup attempt.
But relations between Ankara and Brussels improved. The EU depends on Turkey's help, particularly in curbing the flow of illegal migrants heading to Europe.
"First, let's pave the way for Turkey in the EU, and then we will pave the way for Sweden just as we did for Finland," Erdogan said, adding that he would express these views and make the demands while meeting with leaders on the sidelines of the summit.