Protests over freedom of the press and human rights have been staged in Paris, as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with his counterpart Emmanuel Macron in the French capital. It's Erdogan's first trip to France since a failed coup in 2016, and the ongoing government crack-down which has been condemned by the EU. CGTN's Kevin Ozebek reports.

The presidents of Turkey and France vow to strengthen security and trade ties. But these two allies also have their sharp disagreements. First and foremost is their view on journalists.

RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN PRESIDENT OF TURKEY "Terror doesn't form by itself. There are so-called gardeners of terror and terrorists. These gardeners are those people viewed as thinkers. They write in their newspapers, their columns, as if watering them. They are the ideologues that contribute to terrorism."

President Macron says if Turkey wants more support from the EU, that view of the press must change. With thousands of civil servants and more than a hundred journalists sitting in Turkish jails. President Macron says Turkey's bid to join the EU should remain frozen.

EMMANUEL MACRON PRESIDENT OF FRANCE "It is clear that recent developments and choices allow no progress in the process that is under way."

EU- Turkey relations began to deteriorate when President Erdogan consolidated power after a botched coup failed to oust him in 2016. In the aftermath, he considered bringing back the death penalty, locked up tens of thousands of people, and further cracked down on press freedom. Ahead of his arrival here in Paris, Reporters without Borders members rallied outside the Turkish embassy. Protesters carried portraits of some of the more than one hundred journalists locked up in Turkish prisons.

CHRISTOPHE DELOIRE REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS "When he says that Turkish journalists are terrorists or spies, and that's why they're in jail, no. They're in jail just because they did their jobs in Turkey."

But still, the EU and Turkey are NATO partners. And the EU has a multibillion dollar aid deal with Turkey to house refugees that has slowed the continent's migration crisis. They disagree on human rights-but analysts say these neighbors need each other.

AMANDA PAUL EUROPEAN POLICY CENTER "It's not a relationship that can be thrown away, and sure there is a lot of difficulties in the relationship. There's big concerns about the state of democracy in Turkey but at the same time it's not in the EU's benefit to isolate Turkey further to cut them out."

KEVIN OZEBEK PARIS "The fact that President Erdogan came here to meet with President Macron, shows the growing influence of France. While German Chancellor Angela Merkel continues to struggle to build a coalition back home-President Macron is emerging as the leader in the EU with the most post power and clout in EU foreign policy. Kevin Ozebek, CGTN, Paris."