The letter which acts the formal decision to withdrawal from the EU of the United Kingdom, signed by British Prime Minister Theresa May, was officially presented to EU Council President Donald Tusk today. This application thus officially launches the process of withdrawing from EU membership and is planned to last for 2 years. IKV Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu released a statement on this issue:

“In Britain, 52% of the people voted to leave the EU in a referendum held last June. Today there has been a significant development in the process. With the signature of British Prime Minister Theresa May, the letter initiating the process of withdrawal from membership was presented to EU Council President Donald Tusk. The process is expected to last for 2 years, but the extension is also probable. There will be a tough negotiating process.”

“In the negotiations, the toughest subject will be the free movement of people and settlement rights”

IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu stated that negotiations are expected to be very difficult and the EU is committed not to provide convenience to Britain:

“The UK aims to reach an agreement which would allow access to the EU Single Market, despite the fact that it will leave the Union. In the negotiations, one of the toughest subjects will be the free movement of people and settlement rights. The limitation over the right of British citizens to settle in the EU and the restriction on their freedom to provide services may lead to significant losses regarding the services sector. If Britain does not recognise the same rights for EU citizens, it is difficult for them to obtain these rights for their own citizens in the EU market. One of the most controversial and challenged topics in the EU's exit referendum in Britain was the issue of the presence of 3.2 million EU citizens living and working in Britain, most of them from Eastern Europe. Far-right politicians, such as UKIP leader Nigel Farage, have carried this topic to the agenda during the “Leave” campaign and suggested further restrictions regarding EU immigrants. Freedom of movement, settlement and services provision, in this regard, is seen as the primary topics expected to be the hardest. The EU is determined not to concede to Britain in this regard, because envisaging a new advantageous model for Britain may also be appealing for some Member States and this may trigger further departures from membership."

Moreover, IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu also recalled that the Brexit process brought Scotland's independence demands back to the agenda and stated that the Scottish Parliament had taken a decision to hold a new referendum on independence. Together with the Brexit process, independence demands are expected to be heard more and more frequently despite the necessity of the British government’s permit for referendum.

"Turkey Must Also Determine Its Position in the New EU"

IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu stated that the process should also be carefully monitored and analysed by Turkey:

“While Britain is in the process of leaving the EU, the Union is also redefining its future. Five scenarios were put forward in the White Paper regarding the future of the Union presented by the Commission this month. According to these scenarios, the EU may continue as it is now; it may return to common market identity by stopping integration; it may develop a multi-layered integration model; it may continue the integration through selected policies or it may steer for a federal model by accelerating integration. As Britain's withdrawal from the EU is being negotiated, these issues will be addressed and the structure of the post-Brexit EU will be clarified. For Turkey, which has close links with the EU and is still a candidate country, it is extremely important to follow these developments closely. The EU is our first trade partner and two thirds of foreign direct investment in Turkey originates from EU countries. Furthermore, EU countries are hosting almost 6 million immigrants from Turkey. The EU represents an important governance model in many different areas, from social security to law, from consumer rights to immigration management for a candidate country as Turkey. From all these perspectives, the way the EU will go and the way it will take shape will be decisive in terms of Turkey's future plans. If the EU is institutionalised with a multi-layered and multi-speed structure, Turkey will have to adapt its EU perspective to these developments.”

Finally, referring to the issue of EU defence and Turkey’s hypothetical role in that respect, Zeytinoğlu stated that the EU would lose significant power with Britain leaving the Union:

"Britain is a major political force and its withdrawal from the EU will be a loss in terms of the Union’s defence capabilities. If we look at the EU's developing plans for creating a defence union, the role of Turkey in terms of EU security and defence is once again emerging.  This will become even more critical after an actor like Britain leaves the EU."