Ömer Çelik

Omer Celik, Turkey's Minister for EU Affairs said after the European Parliament vote on Thursday that Ankara would take no notice of the MEPs' decision.

 "This decision is not serious for us since there is a significant lack of vision," Celik concluded.

The Turkish government has reacted angrily to the European Parliament's Nov. 24 overwhelming recommendation to freeze Ankara's EU accession negotiations, with chief negotiator Ömer Çelik saying his government regards the decision as "void."

The Turkish government has reacted angrily to the European Parliament's Nov. 24 recommendation by an overwhelming majority to freeze Ankara's EU accession negotiations, with chief negotiator Ömer Çelik saying the "debates lack vision."

Two people were killed and another 33 were injured on Nov. 24 when a bomb-laden vehicle parked in the parking lot of the governor's office in the southern province of Adana was detonated.

Two people were killed and 33 were wounded on Nov. 24 in an explosion in the parking lot of the governor's office in the southern province of Adana.

Adana Governor Mahmut Demirtaş said a bomb-laden vehicle was detonated near the entrance of his office.

Turkey's European Union Affairs Minister Ömer Çelik has lashed out at Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern for promoting "extreme right wing and racist" sentiment by making anti-Turkish statements. 

Çelik took to Twitter to say extreme rightists' coming into power in key EU countries would lead to major problems. 

Companies in Turkey are concerned about rising tensions between the Turkish government and the European Union, according to Cansen Başaran-Symes, chair of the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD). 

Turkey-EU relations are extremely important for businesses, Başaran-Symes said during an interview on private broadcaster CNN Türk on Nov. 18. 

Top European Union lawmakers on Nov. 17 canceled a visit to Turkey after Ankara refused to see an MEP because of her criticism of Ankara's massive crackdown following July's failed coup.

Top EU lawmakers on Nov. 16 cancelled a visit to Turkey after Ankara refused to see one of the MEPs because of her criticism of Ankara's massive detentions following July's failed coup, a parliament source said.

After a week of continued earthquakes in ties between Turkey and the European Union following the arrests of 12 lawmakers of the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP), including its co-leaders, Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ, and the editor-in-chief and a number of writers of daily Cumhuriyet, it seems both parties are willing to launch a new process of dialogue.