IKV Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu made a statement regarding 9 May Europe Day in light of the latest developments in the EU.

Chairman Zeytinoğlu indicated that the European integration project is a success story regardless of the current difficulties and discrepancies and stressed that it constitutes a model to be emulated by both its member states and candidate states. Furthermore, he noted that it is of utmost importance to take certain lessons in that respect:

“Each year, we are celebrating on 9 May Europe Day. As IKV and the EU Information Centre, we have envisaged reinvigorating the “European ideal” through a series of conferences, concerts and other events on the week of the 9 May.  Undoubtedly, today’s Union is one which is faced with economic, institutional and political crises and which is in dire need of reforms. Nonetheless, one should note that if we go back from 9 May 1950 with the Monnet Memorandum till today, we can say that the EU constitutes a success story. If we had to summarise with one phrase this success, one can say that the EU has succeeded in reconstructing a continent which was shattered following the Second World War and contributed in fostering relations based on understanding and mutual interests, thus enhancing peace and democracy in the continent. It is of critical importance for the EU to take renewed steps in order to protect these opportunities and accelerate reforms”.

Moreover, Chairman Zeytinoğlu alluded to the second tour of the French presidential election which saw the victory of centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron with more than 65% and stressed that it should be assessed as a positive development:

“The threat of the far right was in one of the leader countries of the EU France’s current affairs for a certain period. In the event of the success of far right candidate Marine Le Pen in the presidential elections, it would have shaken not only France but the EU as a whole. Thus, one can say that the fact that presidential elections have been concluded with the victory of centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron with 65% constitutes a positive and encouraging development. In light of the general elections in Germany in September, one can say that the victory of Macron in France would further enhance the possibility for much needed reforms for the EU the next 5 years. In the event that these reforms are not realised thoroughly in this period, the risk of an even more enhanced populist wave is not to exclude. Indeed, the EU needs to take concrete steps regarding economic growth, financial union, and democratic legitimacy and further strengthen solidarity and harmonisation between the member states. Otherwise, one can expect that anti-EU populist movements would probably further flourish. In any case, the clear and swift election victory of Emmanuel Macron constitutes an important achievement for all progressive forces in favour of European integration”.

Finally, Chairman Zeytinoğlu gave his reflections regarding the future of the EU and Turkey’s perspective in that respect:

“Our country has favoured the path of European integration since its first application in 1959. Undoubtedly, the Association Agreement, Customs Union, candidate status and the launch of accession negotiations represented important milestones in order to attain this objective of full integration. One should note that our relations with the EU which have always had both ups and downs have arrived to a critical juncture at this particular moment. Indeed, although the future of negotiations with the EU is uncertain, the EU anchor is of critical importance for the EU for our country in terms of attaining EU standards in a variety of domains such as the environment, social rights among many others. Furthermore, if one takes into consideration the role of the EU in terms of our trade volume and foreign direct investments, it is of utmost importance to put our relations back in track as it would benefit both parties in that respect”.

Ayhan ZEYTİNOĞLU
IKV Chairman