On 2 June 2016 the German Parliament passed a resolution in which it recognized the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1916 committed by Ottoman Turkish forces. It stated it held responsibility for these massacres as well since they were aligned with the Ottoman Empire at the time. The resolution has led to outcry in Turkey, that still has not recognised these events as a genocide. Turkish President Erdogan reacted fiercely and threatened there would be consequences for Turkish-German relations as he already summoned the German ambassador in Ankara. The move could further undermine the EU-Turkey refugee agreement as well, which was already under pressure following the resignation of the Turkish Prime Minister Davutoglu earlier on 5 May that brokered the deal.

Turkish-German relations had been under threat before due to an insulting poem by comedian Jan Böhmermann which was aimed at Erdogan. Many Germans of Turkish descent were also against the resolution, of which many also support Erdogan's AKP party (Law and Development Party) in Turkey.

Fierce emotional reactions were made by Turkish officials amongst which the President who stated Germany should be the last country to hold Turkey accountable given its own history, making remarks to what it had done during WW2. Furthermore, with regards to the EU-Turkey agreement on refugees, he stated he could leave the EU to its own worries.

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For more on the Armenian Genocide that took place in 1915, click here.