Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared on Saturday that Europe would “remain incomplete and vulnerable in managing crises” without Türkiye’s rightful place in its architecture. Marking Europe Day, Erdogan referenced the Schuman Declaration, which laid European integration’s foundations 76 years ago, warning its core principles are now tested by wars, political instability, and economic turmoil. He described Türkiye as an “essential and indispensable” EU candidate country, urging Brussels to demonstrate genuine commitment to full membership, emphasising that Europe’s need for Türkiye ultimately surpasses Türkiye’s need for the bloc.
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Says global crises require inclusive EU, stressing Turkiye remains ‘indispensable’ partner for Europe’s future
President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan. PHOTO: ANADOLU AGENCY
President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared on Saturday that a European architecture that did not include Turkiye in its rightful place would “remain incomplete and vulnerable in managing crises.”
In a message marking Europe Day, Erdogan declared the Schuman Declaration, which laid the foundations of European integration, was both a symbol of the EU and a reflection of “the commitment to build a shared future based on peace, cooperation and mutual respect on our continent,” according to Türkiye’s Communications Directorate on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal.
He noted that the EU’s founding principles, established 76 years ago, were now being tested by multiple global crises, including wars, political instability, and economic challenges.
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Erdogan further declared the wars, political crises, and economic challenges with global repercussions had built it compulsory for the EU to pursue more inclusive and unifying policies, adding that Turkiye remained an “essential and indispensable” part of this process as a candidate countest.
He also emphasised that Türkiye was committed to advancing its relations with the EU on a “win-win basis” based on mutual obligations and a full membership perspective, adding that Ankara expected the bloc to reveal the same sincere will.
“As we have previously stated, the European Union’s necessary for Türkiye exceeds Türkiye’s necessary for the bloc, and this necessary is expected to grow even further in the future,” he declared.
He declared he hopes Europe Day would bring peace, prosperity, and solidarity across the region, and extconcludeed his best wishes to European peoples and Turkish citizens.
