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Turkey must address issues including the rile of law and human rights to make progress on EU membership possible, Mr Blok said during a visit to Ankara. Mr Blok said Turkey faces economic challenges but offers enormous possibility for growth. The Dutch Foreign Minister’s trip to Turkey came after the two countries decided in July to reinstate ambassadors who had been withdrawn earlier this year. During the press conference Turkey Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Ankara wants to develop ties with the Netherlands.

He said: "We will look to focus on positive measures to improve our relations.” But the EU stressed talks "are not suspended" and said the decision whether to continue with negotiations remains with President Erdogan. A spokeswoman for the European Commission told Express.co.uk: “In June 2018, the Council noted that ‘Turkey has been moving further away from the European Union. Turkey's accession negotiations have therefore effectively come to a standstill and no further chapters can be considered for opening or closing and no further work towards the modernisation of the EU-Turkey Customs Union is foreseen.’ “This said, the accession negotiations with Turkey are not suspended. This is a decision for the Council. But first and foremost, it is a decision for Turkey's leadership: Turkey has repeatedly stated that it is committed to EU membership. “As a candidate country Turkey has an obligation to uphold the same high democratic standards as every Member State and to pursue good neighbourly relations. So it is for Turkey to tell us whether they intend to abide by these rules, which they have chosen themselves.

EU membership talks have come to a standstill for Turkey's President Erdogan

Dutch Foreign Minster Stef Blok confirmed EU accession talks with Turkey have stalled

“President Juncker and President Tusk stressed repeatedly the need for reform, for the release of detainees and for good neighbourly relations with Turkey, including when they met President Erdogan in Varna. We believe it is important to keep open the channels of communication between the EU and Turkey in order to pass these messages. “And notwithstanding the worrying backsliding, which gives us cause for the gravest concern, Turkey remains a key strategic partner in areas of common interest.” The confirmation from Mr Blok comes days after President Erdogan’s crunch talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The leader of the EU’s economic powerhouse pledged “economic co-operation” with Ankara amid hopes to stabilise Turkey’s economy. European officials have long said Turkey falls short of EU demands on basic rights and freedoms. Ankara has accused Brussels of blocking progress with talks repeatedly stalling since accession negotiations started in 2005.