Turkey will never become EU member, says Angela Merkel

Comments are likely to worsen already strained ties between the two Nato allies

Angela Merkel meets other CDU party members after the TV debate with her challenger Martin Schulz (Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters)

Germany's Chancellor, Angela Merkel, has said Turkey should categorically not become a member of the European Union in comments that are expected to further inflame tensions between the Nato allies.

Speaking at a televised election debate with her rival, Martin Schulz, she said she would seek a joint EU position with other leaders to ensure Turkey never became a member.

“The fact is clear that Turkey should not become a member of the EU,” she said after Mr Schulz said he would stop Turkey's bid to join the EU if he was elected chancellor.

“Apart from this, I'll speak to my colleagues to see if we can reach a joint position on this so that we can end these accession talks,” she added.

Ms Merkel made a better impression on voters in the televised debate than Mr Schulz, a flash survey by broadcaster ZDF showed.

The poll, conducted by Forschungsgruppe Wahlen during the first half of the debate and published shortly after it had finished, showed that Ms Merkel was viewed as more credible by 33 per cent compared to 17 per cent for Mr Schulz.

Her comments are likely to worsen already strained ties between the countries after Ms Merkel said Berlin should react decisively to Turkey's detention of two more German citizens on political charges.

It comes just weeks after German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel told Turkey it will never become a member of the EU as long as it is governed by the current president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“It is clear that in this state, Turkey will never become a member of the EU,” Mr Gabriel said.

Mr Erdogan has urged German Turks to boycott Germany's main parties in next month's general election.

Additional reporting by Reuters