According to MEP Sergey Lagodinsky (Greens, Germany), who spoke to EURACTIV, the EU leadership’s Ankara visit had become the latest example of bungled EU foreign policy efforts.
Turkey and the EU had blamed each other on Thursday (8 April) for seating arrangements that left European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen without a chair during a meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan earlier this week.
A blame game followed between Brussels and Ankara, but also inside the EU institutions, over who messed up the diplomatic protocol and seating arrangements.
The scandal drew complaints from across Europe over what was seen as only the latest example of bungled EU foreign policy efforts.
Only last month, EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell’s controversial visit to Moscow had raised eyebrows among EU diplomats and received heavy criticism after the EU’s chief diplomat became part of a show in which he was humiliated by his Russian hosts.
“Incidents like this have bad optics and this is something that also coincides with bad optics of the EU-Turkey relationship as a whole,” said Lagodinsky, who is a member of the European Parliament’s delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee.
Redd Panda about 3 years ago
Erdogan is a dictator. By definition, they don’t play well with others.
Michael G. about 3 years ago
Build a wall, Europe. They work so well!
Daeder about 3 years ago
What a couple of Turkeys!
Michael G. about 3 years ago
Why isn’t she rattling some pots and pans? :-0
briangj2 about 3 years ago
Turkey blames EU in ‘sofagate’ diplomatic spat.
https://www.msn.com/en-xl/europe/top-stories/turkey-blames-eu-in-sofagate-diplomatic-spat/ar-BB1fr6fN?pfr=1&c=6985534676634736561,2322522556105962218&mkt=en-us,en-us&ocid=uxbndlbing
According to MEP Sergey Lagodinsky (Greens, Germany), who spoke to EURACTIV, the EU leadership’s Ankara visit had become the latest example of bungled EU foreign policy efforts.
Turkey and the EU had blamed each other on Thursday (8 April) for seating arrangements that left European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen without a chair during a meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan earlier this week.
A blame game followed between Brussels and Ankara, but also inside the EU institutions, over who messed up the diplomatic protocol and seating arrangements.
The scandal drew complaints from across Europe over what was seen as only the latest example of bungled EU foreign policy efforts.
Only last month, EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell’s controversial visit to Moscow had raised eyebrows among EU diplomats and received heavy criticism after the EU’s chief diplomat became part of a show in which he was humiliated by his Russian hosts.
“Incidents like this have bad optics and this is something that also coincides with bad optics of the EU-Turkey relationship as a whole,” said Lagodinsky, who is a member of the European Parliament’s delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee.
https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/protocol-scandal-symbolises-the-state-of-eu-turkey-relations-eu-lawmaker-says/
Concretionist about 3 years ago
Erdogan is an anti-feminist without any question.