Erdogan requests Turkey's admission to EU ahead of Sweden

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan asked Monday to clear Turkey's path into EU membership before clearing Sweden's NATO membership during a press conference before departing for the NATO summit in Lithuania. "First, let's clear Turkey's way in the European Union, then let's clear the way for Sweden, just as we paved the way for Finland," Erdogan said. Erdogan also emphasized that "Turkey has been waiting at the gate of the European Union for over 50 years now," and "almost all NATO member countries are European member countries."