Addressing the Reform Action Group (RAG), President Erdoğan said: “Attempts that seek to turn the European Union in on itself and put it under a very narrow pattern can only be thwarted through the incorporation of such countries as ours that have enabled different identities, faiths and cultures to live together in peace for centuries. The European Union’s claim to be living up to its founding values is doomed to remain unfulfilled without Turkey’s full membership.”
The Reform Action Group (RAG) convened at the Presidential Complex under the chairmanship of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The President delivered the opening speech of the meeting.
Expressing his wish for the meeting, which he said coincides with the Europe Day, to be successful and productive, President Erdoğan noted that the Europe Day offers an important opportunity to discuss the problems of the European Union and get a general picture of it.
President Erdoğan stated that the EU, in the course of time, has turned into a political integration model and has become a source of inspiration for many countries by blending its founding values such as democracy, human rights and the rule of law with economic and social development.
“Without Turkey, it is impossible for the EU to successfully deal with such existential threats as islamophobia and cultural racism"
Highlighting Turkey’s 60-year-long struggle to become a full member of the EU, President Erdoğan said: “We have never given up or backed down despite all the double standards we have faced throughout 60 years. We have done, and continue to do, everything in our power to obtain full membership, which is our strategic goal. Neither the acts of injustice we have sustained in this process nor the tactics of deterrence against our country have affected our determination for full membership. We are as determined today as we were 60 years ago.”
The EU’s need for Turkey is bigger than Turkey’s need for the EU, stated President Erdoğan, adding: “Without Turkey, it is impossible for the EU to successfully deal with such existential threats as Islamophobia, cultural racism, discrimination and anti-immigrant stance, which dynamite the European Union’s founding values. Attempts that seek to turn the European Union in on itself and put it under a very narrow pattern can only be thwarted through the incorporation of such countries as ours that have enabled different identities, faiths and cultures to live together in peace for centuries. The European Union’s claim to be living up to its founding values is doomed to remain unfulfilled without Turkey’s full membership.”
“We want our European interlocutors to put aside their ideological prejudices”
President Erdoğan said: “We want our European interlocutors to put aside their ideological prejudices and address the issue on the basis of justice and fairness. We expect them to put an end to discriminatory and exclusionary policies towards Turkey and advance the process with a long-term vision and win-win understanding.”
Drawing attention to the fact that this is the first time he is chairing the RAG meeting as the President, President Erdoğan noted that the EU-Turkey relations would be analyzed thoroughly and a roadmap would be determined for the period ahead during the meeting.
Stressing that Turkey’s priority for the past two years has been to fight against terrorist organizations, first and foremost Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), President Erdoğan said that Turkey declared state of emergency following the July 15, 2016 coup attempt and took important measures, but that it couldn’t see sufficient solidarity on the part of the member countries and institutions of the EU.
Turkey, while also carrying on with its fight against terrorist organizations, first and foremost FETO and PKK, will give more weight to policies that would raise its democratic qualities, said President Erdoğan, pointing out that the Presidential System of Government has accelerated the decision-making and execution processes, thus enabling a faster and more effective implementation of reforms.
“Every step we have taken within the context of harmonization with the EU has been aimed for the wellbeing and prosperity of our citizens. We are acting with the same mentality today as well. Our top priority is the consolidation of our citizens’ fundamental rights and freedoms. As I have noted repeatedly, we continue our path in this direction with the necessary steps ─ by calling them Ankara Criteria, rather than Copenhagen Criteria, if need be,” President Erdoğan said.
“The EU membership is meaningful only within an equation that lets both sides win”
Describing the steps to be taken in the field of judiciary as the most important of the structural reforms, President Erdoğan stated that the Justice Academy has been put into service with its new structure in the meantime.
Underscoring that Turkey is at a level that is incomparable with any other country with which the EU has visa liberalization, President Erdoğan stressed that Turkey will see how sincere the EU is in visa liberalization when it fulfills six remaining criteria out of 72.
The relations between Turkey and the EU continue in an effective fashion on the issue of migration, President Erdoğan said. Further stressing that Turkey, acting in line with the principle of pacta sunt servanda, continues to implement the March 18 agreement with good faith, President Erdoğan underscored that the EU should also act in the same manner.
Pointing out that Turkey has a clear roadmap regarding the issue, President Erdoğan said: “We will neither bow to pressure nor allow anyone to take us out of the game. We will maintain our works by acting with due diligence on issues concerning our country’s survival. The EU membership is meaningful only within an equation that lets both sides win. No one can force us to accept an equation whereby Turkey would end up a loser.”