The Reform Action Group (RAG), which carries significance in terms of Turkey’s harmonisation process for the EU, has gathered today with the participation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Justice, Treasury and Finance and Interior following a three-year break. IKV Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu made statements on this meeting which is seen as an important step for the revitalisation of Turkey’s EU process.

Zeytinoglu stated that a certain rapprochement with the EU has been felt in the recent period and remarked that RAG's gathering is also promising in terms of the acceleration and continuation of this convergence:

“The meeting of the Reform Action Group, which brings related ministries together as a platform that oversees Turkey’s harmonisation to the EU particularly on the political criterion, after a three-year break is a very joyous development. I welcome it as a concrete indication that the EU has entered into the government’s agenda once again. Recently especially in the face of US sanctions on Turkey, the support of the EU countries, particularly Germany and France, has led to a rapprochement with the EU. In particular, the crackle of the Transatlantic Alliance under the influence of Trump’s approach has impelled the EU to seek common alliance with the countries around its borders. We see the effects of this process in French President Macron’s speech in which he proposes partnership with Turkey and Russia.  However, as Turkey, we have to be on alert when the proposal of strategic partnership instead of full membership comes up. We have to demonstrate that for Turkey, the aim of full membership continues not in word but in action. In this respect, the gathering of RAG is an important demonstration.”

IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu also addressed the expectations regarding the RAG's meeting:

“RAG’s agenda includes the fundamental rights and judicial issues within the scope of 23^rd and 24^th chapters and political criteria, which are particularly significant during the EU accession process. The best step to take in order to overturn the determination that has been mentioned in the EU documents recently as “Turkey is getting further from the EU”, would be to carry out this agenda. The revitalisation of the EU process would lead to the development and relaxation of the political areas; it would enable the start of the process of the modernisation of Customs Union and would be instrumental in the development of a favourable business climate in terms of foreign investment and business in an economic sense."

Lastly, Chairman Zeytinoğlu touched upon some events that will be important in terms of reviving the EU process in the forthcoming days:

“Our foreign minister will attend the Informal Meeting of EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Austria. Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany will visit Turkey. Our president will visit Germany at the end of September. It is also said that the Federal Minister of Economy of Germany will be visiting Turkey, with a delegation of business people.  Therefore, there is going to be intensive contacts with Germany, which has a great significance when it comes to opening up doors for the EU. Germany is especially closely associated with investment and business environment in Turkey. Germany has been at the head of the countries that prevented the modernisation of the Customs Union. Therefore, a rapprochement with Germany could accelerate the modernisation of the Customs Union as well. Moreover, with the Syria Summit which is projected to be held in September, and subsequently the Geneva talks regarding the Syrian constitution, the future of Syria is coming to the fore.  We also expect opportunities for collaboration and joint work to arise between Turkey and the EU. If we can harmonise common values on the basis of common interests, this could help Turkey to solve these issues, enhance its standard of living and to get out of middle-income trap."