The European Parliament (EP) issued a progress report on Turkey on April 14, causing a stir and striking some observers as the EP's harshest criticism of Turkey ever.

Just months ago European Union leaders, led by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, were courting Turkey and its strongman, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to implement a deal under which Turkey would curtail the refugee flow into Europe.

The EU’s coddling of the Turkish government and Erdogan, while protests and complaints about basic human rights violations are ongoing, has caused increasing unease in European societies. EU member countries are being strongly criticized for selling out the EU's basic principles.

Apparently cognizant of its backtracking on basic principles, the parliament tried to regain the moral high ground by criticizing itself in the report. In particular, it drew attention to the fact that the European Commission — the EU's executive body — had postponed its critical bi-yearly report from late last year. The priority of realpolitik over moralpolitik has become imperative for the Europeans to reach to a deal on the refugee flow that has nearly paralyzed the EU area.