Against the backdrop of the recent brutal attacks in Turkey, I took the opportunity once again to pledge the Federal Government’s solidarity in the fight against terrorism at the talks with my colleague. However, I also made it clear that the strength of the law, and not the law of the strong, must prevail.

We welcome the fact that the Turkish Government has decided to continue down its path towards the EU. However, this must also go hand in hand with a commitment to our European values. It goes without saying that I also talked about the, to our mind, critical points regarding the rule of law and the principle of proportionality.

The recent arrests of members of parliament and the prohibition and restriction of numerous media outlets are two examples that concern us greatly. Nevertheless, we must not slam doors shut that will prove difficult to open up once again. European‑minded Turkish citizens must know that we stand by their side.