Opinion
Turkey Doesn't Want EU Membership to Receive Easy Aid: Turkish Ambassador to China
Turkish Ambassador to China on ties between Turkey and the European Union
  ·  2018-05-07  ·   Source: Web Exclusive

Turkish Ambassador to China Abdulkadir Emin Onen (COURTESY PHOTO)

On April 17, Abdulkadir Emin Onen, Turkish Ambassador to China, spoke with Beijing Review reporter Li Nan about the relationship between Turkey and the European Union (EU) in Beijing . An edited excerpt of this interview follows:

Beijing Review: What's your opinion on the relationship between Turkey and the EU? What's the crucial hurdle for Turkey to gain membership of the EU? If Turkey fails to join the EU before 2023, what impact will that have on both Turkey and the EU?

Abdulkadir Emin Onen: Full membership to the EU continues to be our strategic priority, and it is the main objective of our relations. Our cooperation with the EU in all areas of mutual interest, such as security, energy, illegal migration and economic relations should be carried out on this basis.

We have put in a lot of effort into the membership process. Unfortunately, subjective and artificial political obstacles have been holding back our accession for a considerable period of time. Turkey expects the EU's sincere and honest cooperation.

Today the EU is confronting internal and external threats and challenges, including migration flows, security issues, terrorism, persistent unemployment, as well as the rise of far right and populist movements.

Turkey, with its strong economy and stable financial system, high economic productivity, and educated young population, offers a solution to some of the challenges the EU is facing. Turkey does not want EU membership to receive easy aid, but wants to share responsibility in solving common problems in this part of the world. In this regard, the remedy to many of the EU's problems lies in Turkey's full membership to the union.

We would like to complete our accession negotiations in line with mutual trust and a win-win situation.

Copyedited by Laurence Coulton

Comments to linan@bjreview.com

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