Turkey doesn’t expect positive steps with EU while Austria has presidency – FM Cavusoglu

Turkey does not believe positive steps will be taken with the European Union while Austria holds the presidency of the bloc this year, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday. Reflecting the tensions between Ankara and Vienna, Cavusoglu also told NTV that he does not expect positive steps on opening a new chapter for Turkey’s EU accession bid. However, Ankara will discuss visa liberalization with EU officials. Austria will take over the rotating six-month presidency of the EU in July, giving it an important say in setting the agenda at the many meetings between member states. Vienna has said it plans to use its presidency to shift toward preventing further waves of migrant arrivals, Reuters said.