Tsipras asks EU peers to send strong message to Turkey

The European Union needs to retain its calm position against developments in Turkey, while sending strong but targeted messages to Ankara, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras told his peers in Brussels on Thursday.

His intervention took place in the context of the working dinner of the European Council, which discussed the state of EU-Turkish relations and the situation in Turkey.

The EU heads of state and government converged on the view that Turkey is distancing itself further from the Copenhagen criteria for its accession to the bloc, particularly in terms of democratic values and justice.

There was also concern expressed over developments within Turkey as well as over the country's role in the region.

According to government sources Tsipras said that "the issues that concern democracy and justice in Turkey are not just matters of principle for Greece, but...