President Erdogan: EU Won't Be A Powerhouse Without Turkey

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (Wikimedia Commons/World Economic Forum/Andy Mettler)

JAKARTA - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the European Union (EU) would not be able to realize its dream of becoming a center of power, without Turkey as a member. This statement refers to Turkey's status which is not yet a member of the EU.

"It is impossible for the EU to achieve its goal of becoming a center of attraction and power, without Turkey as a full member", Erdogan said, while speaking at the Southeast European Cooperation Process (SEECP) summit in Antalya, Turkey Thursday, 17 June.

President Erdogan further explained that Ankara hopes that the European Union will soon escape from its strategic blindness, as well as to advance the accession process within the framework of a positive agenda.

President Erdogan also criticized rising racism, Islamophobia, and anti-immigrant sentiment on a global scale. According to him, gradually it will turn into a national security issue.

This year's summit, held in Turkey as president of the alliance, also marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of the SEECP, which unites Turkey, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Republic of Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Greece, Croatia, Moldova, and Montenegro.

"This is a symbol of the joint desire of countries in the region to enhance cooperation among members, in order to achieve stability in Southeastern Europe", the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.

To note, cited from Anadolu March 31, Turkey applied for EU membership since 1987, but accession talks only started in 2005. This process was stalled due to objections from Greek Cypriots, as well as objections from Germany and France in 2007.

Meanwhile, to gain EU membership, Turkey must complete negotiations of 35 policy chapters involving reform and adoption of European standards.

As of May 2016, 16 chapters of the process have been opened and one has been closed. However, in December 2016, member states announced that the new chapter would not be opened.

Since then, Ankara has held numerous negotiations with EU officials, insisting that Turkey wants to open Chapter 23 on justice and fundamental rights and Chapter 24 on justice, freedom, and security.