STRASBOURG, (France): The European Parliament on Thursday voted to freeze membership talks with Turkey over its “disproportionate” post-coup crackdown, further escalating tensions with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey immediately branded the non-binding vote “null and void”, while Erdogan had already said in his latest broadside against the European Union that the result was worthless.

Most EU states meanwhile want to keep the Turkey talks on track, but the vote by a large majority of MEPs will only add to the bad blood in the wake of the July 15 failed putsch.

Lawmakers voting in Strasbourg, France, said the parliament “strongly condemns the disproportionate repressive measures taken in Turkey since the failed military coup attempt”.

They said they remained “committed to keeping Turkey anchored to the EU” but said that parliament “calls on the Commission and the Member States, however, to initiate a temporary freeze of the ongoing accession negotiations with Turkey.” The motion was approved by 479 votes to 37, with 107 abstentions.

Turkey’s EU Affairs Minister Omer Celik on Thursday said the vote was “undemocratic”.

“We consider that decision null and void.—AFP