IKV CHAIRMAN ÖMER CİHAD VARDAN:

“IT IS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE THAT EP PRESIDENT SCHULZ PUT EMPHASIS ON TURKEY’S EU CANDIDACY”

The visit of EP President Martin Schulz to Turkey on the eve of the election period is of great significance. The visit of the President of the European Parliament which represents the world’s only democratically elected supranational parliament before the general elections in Turkey confirms the EU’s support and the importance attributed  to democracy and to people’s will.

The fact that Schulz was accompanied by the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Anne Brasseur also holds a crucial message. The high level European representatives of two key democratic institutions of Europe have expressed their wish to see Turkey moving forward towards European values.

Before his visit, Schulz reminded that beyond Turkey’s role as a key strategic, political and economic partner of the EU, it is a candidate country which aims to join the EU. Schulz ensured that he takes Turkey’s candidature seriously and he further pointed out to the importance of ensuring a continuous dialogue between decision makers, parliamentarians and civil society organisations of the EU and Turkey.

The latest geopolitical developments in the Middle East, Syrian refugees, Turkey’s reform process, visa liberalisation, Cyprus talks were among the main topics discussed during the meetings held between EP President Schulz with his counterparts. These meetings revealed once again common interest and the importance of strengthening cooperation between the EU and Turkey.

The possibility to open Chapter 17 on Economic and Monetary Policy to negotiations which has been also discussed during the meeting held between EP President Schulz’s and Minister of Foreign Affairs Çavuşoğlu and Minister for EU Affairs Volkan Bozkır will undoubtedly bring a new impetus to Turkey’s EU accession negotiations. We also hope that, with the ongoing Cyprus negotiations being likely resumed, obstacles as regards to the Cyprus issue will be lifted thus enabling to further accelerate the negotiations process.