The European Commission has strongly condemned Turkish president Recep Erdogan’s reported decision to ask 15,000 university staff to resign, following a failed coup.
The forced resignations target both university leaders and scientists who defend freedom of speech and international cooperation. A spokesman for European neighbourhood policy told Research Europe that such actions, if confirmed, will be taken seriously by the Commission, especially in the light of Turkey’s ongoing EU membership negotiations.
“Fundamental freedoms are core values of the European Union, and Turkey, as a candidate country, needs to aspire to the highest possible democratic standards and practices,” the spokesman said.
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