NewKerala.com

Erdogan Urges Europe to Drop Prejudices, Presses for EU Membership

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on European leaders to abandon political and historical prejudices toward Turkey. He argued that the EU cannot become a global actor without Turkey as a full member. Erdogan emphasized that Europe's need for Turkey exceeds Turkey's need for Europe. Turkey's EU accession negotiations have been effectively stalled since 2018 due to concerns over democratic reforms.

Key Points: Erdogan Urges Europe to Drop Prejudices Over Turkey EU Bid

  • Erdogan urges Europe to abandon prejudices toward Turkey
  • Says EU cannot be global actor without Turkey
  • Turkey applied for EU membership in 1987
  • EU accession negotiations stalled since 2018
2 min read

Erdogan calls on Europe to abandon "prejudices" toward Turkiye, presses for EU membership

Turkish President Erdogan calls on Europe to abandon political and historical prejudices, stressing Turkey's importance for EU's global role.

"Europe's need for Turkey exceeds Turkey's need for Europe; tomorrow, this need will only grow greater. - Recep Tayyip Erdogan"

Ankara, May 5

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has urged European leaders to consider Ankara's long-time bid for membership in the European Union, stating that Turkiye should not be remembered only in times of distress and sidelined otherwise.

In a post on X, Erdogan said Europe is currently at a crossroads, adding that without Turkiye, the EU cannot become a global actor or a "centre of attraction."

"In our relations with the European Union, the issue is not where Ankara stands; it is where Brussels wants to be in the world of the future, where it sees itself. It must now be understood that an EU without Turkey as a full member cannot be a global actor or a centre of attraction. We are not a country to be remembered only in times of distress, whose door is knocked on when needed, and otherwise sidelined; nor will we ever be. The European Union must fully appreciate the value of Turkey's constructive stance, must not squander it, and must refrain from actions and rhetoric that would jeopardise it," Erdogan wrote on X.

He further said, "Europe's need for Turkey exceeds Turkey's need for Europe; tomorrow, this need will only grow greater."

The Turkish President also said that Europe must abandon its "political and historical prejudices" towards Turkiye.

"Our hope is that decision-makers in Europe will abandon their political and historical prejudices and focus on developing sincere, genuine, and equal relations with Turkey," he said.

Turkiye applied in 1987 to join what was then the European Economic Community, and in 1999 it was recognised as an EU candidate country. It has yet to become a member of the EU.

"In 2018, due to continuing backsliding in reforms in key areas of the enlargement process, particularly concerning the functioning of the democratic system, respect for fundamental rights, and the independence of the judiciary, the Council decided that accession negotiations had effectively come to a standstill," the European Commission noted on its official website.

The European Union (EU) is an economic and political union of 27 countries. It operates an internal (single) market that allows the free movement of goods, capital, services, and people among member states.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Interesting how Erdogan plays the victim card while simultaneously cracking down on journalists and Kurds. The EU's concerns about democracy and human rights in Turkiye are legitimate. We in India should know better - we face similar scrutiny on our record. Turkiye needs reforms, not just rhetoric.
J
James A
As a Western observer, I see Turkiye's strategic importance - NATO's second-largest army, control of Bosporus, energy hub. But EU membership requires meeting Copenhagen criteria. Erdogan's authoritarian turn since 2016 makes that impossible. Europe isn't wrong to be cautious.
S
Siddharth J
"Europe's need for Turkiye exceeds Turkiye's need for Europe" - bold statement, but is it true? Turkiye's economy is in shambles, inflation at 70%+, lira collapsing. Meanwhile EU is Turkiye's biggest trade partner and investor. Erdogan is bluffing. Without EU, Turkiye would be even more isolated.
A
Ananya R
As an Indian, I see parallels with our own EU-free trade agreement talks. The West loves strategic partnerships but hates equal terms. Erdogan calling out their "political and historical prejudices" hits home. Europe's Islamophobia and colonialism-shaped thinking still influences their view of Turkiye. Time for honest dialogue.
R
Rahul R
Erdogan should focus on fixing Turkiye's economy and democratic backsliding instead of blaming Europe. The EU has clear criteria - rule of law, human rights, independent judiciary. Turkiye's score on all three has deteriorated. You can't demand membership

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50