Erdogan Claims: "Only Türkiye can save EU"
According to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Türkiye’s membership has the potential to revitalize the EU's aging economy and workforce.. source:TROIB RTS
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has emphasized that Türkiye’s full EU membership is essential to rescue the bloc from an impending decline. He highlighted that Ankara’s EU accession bid has been stalled for nearly a decade due to its inability to meet EU standards in various sectors.
In a televised speech following a cabinet meeting in Ankara on Monday, Erdogan asserted that Türkiye's entry into the EU could “save the European Union from its deadlock, ranging from the economy to defense and from politics to international standing.” He further stated that Türkiye could serve as a “lifeline” to the EU’s aging economy and workforce.
Erdogan called on the EU to recognize this critical situation promptly, urging it to avoid repeating past mistakes. He expressed, “As always, we are eager to advance our membership process based on mutual benefit and respect, with a constructive approach,” and maintained that positive outcomes could be achieved if the EU demonstrates the necessary political will.
The Turkish president also pointed out that the EU is grappling with internal political challenges. He noted that liberal democracy, once seen as the “most alluring ideology,” is currently experiencing a significant crisis, with “far-right demagogues” capitalizing on this gap, referencing the recent electoral victories of right-wing parties within the EU.
Amid shifting political dynamics, Erdogan raised alarms about the rise of anti-immigrant and Islamophobic sentiments in Europe, assuring that Türkiye is “closely monitoring” the developments to protect Turkish citizens and other Muslim communities in the bloc from potential threats posed by right-wing groups.
Since applying for EU membership in 1987 and achieving candidate status in 1999, Türkiye commenced accession talks in 2005. However, the process has been largely on hold since 2016 due to substantial hurdles, including issues related to human rights, democratic practices, and ongoing disputes concerning Cyprus.
In 2018, the EU remarked that Ankara “has been moving further away from the European Union” and indicated that negotiations had “effectively come to a standstill.” Nevertheless, Türkiye continues to regard EU membership as a “strategic goal.”
Over the past decade, right-wing movements have gained momentum across the EU, a trend intensified by increasing migration. In Germany's recent federal election, the right-wing Alternative for Germany party garnered 20.8% of the vote, emerging as the second-largest party in the Bundestag, and Germany is home to a significant Turkish diaspora, estimated at around 1.5 million.
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
In a televised speech following a cabinet meeting in Ankara on Monday, Erdogan asserted that Türkiye's entry into the EU could “save the European Union from its deadlock, ranging from the economy to defense and from politics to international standing.” He further stated that Türkiye could serve as a “lifeline” to the EU’s aging economy and workforce.
Erdogan called on the EU to recognize this critical situation promptly, urging it to avoid repeating past mistakes. He expressed, “As always, we are eager to advance our membership process based on mutual benefit and respect, with a constructive approach,” and maintained that positive outcomes could be achieved if the EU demonstrates the necessary political will.
The Turkish president also pointed out that the EU is grappling with internal political challenges. He noted that liberal democracy, once seen as the “most alluring ideology,” is currently experiencing a significant crisis, with “far-right demagogues” capitalizing on this gap, referencing the recent electoral victories of right-wing parties within the EU.
Amid shifting political dynamics, Erdogan raised alarms about the rise of anti-immigrant and Islamophobic sentiments in Europe, assuring that Türkiye is “closely monitoring” the developments to protect Turkish citizens and other Muslim communities in the bloc from potential threats posed by right-wing groups.
Since applying for EU membership in 1987 and achieving candidate status in 1999, Türkiye commenced accession talks in 2005. However, the process has been largely on hold since 2016 due to substantial hurdles, including issues related to human rights, democratic practices, and ongoing disputes concerning Cyprus.
In 2018, the EU remarked that Ankara “has been moving further away from the European Union” and indicated that negotiations had “effectively come to a standstill.” Nevertheless, Türkiye continues to regard EU membership as a “strategic goal.”
Over the past decade, right-wing movements have gained momentum across the EU, a trend intensified by increasing migration. In Germany's recent federal election, the right-wing Alternative for Germany party garnered 20.8% of the vote, emerging as the second-largest party in the Bundestag, and Germany is home to a significant Turkish diaspora, estimated at around 1.5 million.
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
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