A Message of Congratulations on “Europe Day” from President Musa Karademir
It has been 76 years since the Schuman Declaration, which laid the foundations of the European Union. Rebuilt in the wake of the Second World War, which affected the entire world, Europe created a unique supranational entity—the European Union—through a ‘set of values’ designed to ensure that war would never happen again. European countries, united by a culture of tolerance that transcends differences in language, religion and race, have progressed towards peace and prosperity on the basis of fundamental values such as human rights, the rule of law, democracy, equality and justice.
Europe Day on 9 May is not only a symbol of peace, solidarity, democracy and shared development across Europe, but also a significant turning point in terms of strengthening inter-state cooperation, economic integration and the construction of a shared future.
Today, on Europe Day, we observe that the EU has drifted away from its founding philosophy. In recent years, faced with issues such as enlargement policies, migration management, energy security, economic vulnerabilities, global power balances, wars and defence policies, the EU has been searching for a strategic direction.
The contradictions and inconsistencies within the EU indicate that the Union is gradually transforming from a structure centred on normative values into a geopolitical actor. This situation points to a critical period in which the EU is compelled to confront its founding principles and values once again.
Unfortunately, the approach towards Turkey during this process has often been shaped by political double standards, protracted negotiation processes and a lack of strategic vision.
Turkey is an indispensable country for Europe in terms of security, the economy, energy supply, migration management and regional stability, having pursued the goal of full EU membership for decades. However, the fact that accession negotiations have effectively been halted for political reasons raises serious questions regarding the EU’s principles of inclusivity, equality and partnership.
At this juncture, the EU’s approach to Turkey as merely a ‘migration buffer’ or ‘market partner’ is unsustainable. Turkey-EU relations must be rebuilt not only on mutual interests but also on mutual respect and a shared understanding of equal partnership.
In particular, the current structure of the Customs Union is no longer capable of meeting today’s economic realities. The fact that Turkey is directly affected by the EU’s trade agreements without having a say in decision-making mechanisms clearly demonstrates that the current system is unfair. Updating the Customs Union is now a strategic necessity not only for economic reasons but also for the restoration of political trust.
The future of the EU can be shaped not by excluding a strong regional actor such as Turkey, but through an inclusive and visionary partnership. The constant postponement of Turkey’s full membership perspective is a significant loss not only for Turkey but also for Europe’s global influence.
On the occasion of Europe Day on 9 May, it must be stated that the EU should reassess its relations with Turkey based on a shared history, shared security and a shared future, rather than short-term political approaches, and revive the full membership process on a sincere, fair and strategic footing.
We look forward to the establishment of constructive, balanced and forward-looking relations between Turkey and the EU for the sake of stronger peace, diplomacy, economic cooperation and dialogue.
