In a speech in Istanbul, Erdogan accused Europe of "hypocrisy" over the state's resurgent battle with the PKK, which has been blacklisted by Turkey and its Western allies as a terror group.

"How can you talk about sincerity when the terrorist organization is allowed to erect a tent in Brussels, outside the European Council building?" he said, referring to a tent set up by Kurdish activists during an EU-Turkey summit last week.