EU welcomes end of emergency in Turkey

BRUSSELS, July 19 (KUNA) -- The European Union Thursday welcomed the end of the state of emergency in place in Turkey since the coup attempt of 2016 but at the same time urged Ankara to improve the rule of law and fundamental freedoms in the country.
"We believe the adoption of new legislative proposals granting extraordinary powers to the authorities and retaining several restrictive elements of the state of emergency would dampen any positive effect of its termination," said Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson for EU High Representative Federica Mogherini, in a statement.
"In view of the termination of the state of emergency we also expect Turkey to follow through and reverse all measures that continue to impact negatively on the rule of law, independence of the judiciary and the fundamental freedoms that are at the core of any democratic state," it noted.
"Concrete and lasting improvements in the area of rule of law and fundamental freedoms remain essential to the prospects of EU-Turkey relations," it added. (end) nk.tg