Istanbul - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated on Saturday that Türkiye may consider parting ways with the European Union, suggesting that the nation is contemplating the possibility of terminating its efforts to become a member of the 27-nation bloc.

"The EU is making efforts to sever ties with Türkiye," he informed reporters prior to his departure for the 78th UN General Assembly in New York. "We will assess the situation, and if necessary, we will separate from the EU."

His remarks were prompted by a question regarding a recent report adopted by the European Parliament, which asserted that "the accession process cannot resume under the current circumstances" and urged the EU to explore "a parallel and realistic framework" for its relations with Türkiye.

Türkiye applied for EU membership in 1999, and accession negotiations commenced in 2005. These negotiations were halted in 2018 due to concerns over "democratic backsliding," as noted by the European Parliament.

Erdogan's statement on Saturday came more than a week after Türkiye's foreign minister reaffirmed the nation's determination to join the EU and urged the bloc to take bold steps to advance Türkiye's candidacy.