Turkey and the European Union (2016)

Before an audience of around 250 people and around Pat Cox, President of the Foundation, former President of the European Parliament and the European International Movement, the participants in the Dialogue were Rauf Engin Soysal, Ambassador and Under-Secretary of State of the Ministry of European Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, and Elmar Brok, Chairman of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee. Ambassador Soysal replaced Minister Volkan Bozkır who was no longer able to travel to Lausanne.

Around Pat Cox, President of the Foundation, former President of the European Parliament and former President of the European Movement International who hosted the event, Messrs Engin Soysal and Elmar Brok spoke.

After the opening of the event by Pat Cox, Engin Soysal, Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of European Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, presented his keynote address on the theme of the Dialogue. He highlighted two fundamental points in relations between Turkey and the European Union. On the one hand, it is important to put the situation in context in order to fully understand these relationships and, on the other hand, the major projects that are being launched as part of them.

For Engin Soysal, who was very pleased to be able to speak during the Dialogue, it is necessary to understand the relations between Turkey and the European Union with all its antecedents, since in 1959 Turkey chose the Europe of the Six, and then in 1987 submitted its official application for membership. Through this act, Turkey has always been an observer and supporter of the European integration process. For Engin Soysal, there is therefore a dynamic of integration in relations between Turkey and the European Union. He sees the need for constant synchronization to be in line with the EU’s objectives on the one hand and aware of Turkey’s efforts on the other. Today even more than ever, especially in relation to the instability in the Middle East and the resulting migration crisis.

Regarding this synchronization, the Under-Secretary of State then addressed the issue of major projects as a second fundamental point. He spoke in particular of the major progress made on the Turkish side in modernising the customs union, then on the year 2005 and the relaunch of accession negotiations with the current challenge of regaining the great enthusiasm lost in a little over 10 years. Finally, Mr. Soysal addressed the issue of visa liberalization.

Then Elmar Brok, Chairman of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, carried out the same exercise. He first referred to Jean Monnet’s work and ideas, in particular with the creation of the ECSC to avoid new conflicts in Europe, while expressing his joy and pride at being able to take part in this Dialogue. Then he spoke of the European Union, which must constantly adapt to new challenges linked to the crises it is going through, whether these are external – such as the financial crisis – or internal. The EU does not have the necessary instruments to deal with these crises, but it is creating them as they happen. It is now facing a dramatic migration crisis and that is where Turkey comes in most strongly. Because this country and the EU have common interests, whether it is the customs union, the potential free trade agreement with the United States and above all peace in Syria. The latter cannot be achieved without close cooperation between Turkey and the European Union.

However, Elmar Brok mentioned the importance of not mixing the issue of common interests with the internal situation in Turkey, while stressing that Turkish political developments do not bring Turkey closer to the EU and do not allow the criteria for accession to be met.

The continuation of the event took the form of a debate between Engin Soysal and Elmar Brok, moderated by Pat Cox, addressing issues of the Turkey-EU agreement on migrants, visa liberalisation, the anti-terrorism law and solutions to find common ground. The issue of Turkey’s accession, Turkey’s real motivations in its relations with the EU and the reactions of members of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee to ministerial changes in Turkey were also discussed. Before President Cox concluded this Dialogue, which brought together about 250 people, a question and answer period between the public and the speakers took place.

Opening of the Dialogue by Pat Cox, President of the Foundation, former President of the European Parliament