Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz made a remarkably important speech at the Charles University in Prague which outlined his vision for an enlarged and reformed EU. He talked about the challenges facing the EU such as energy crisis, problems in decision-making and rule of law standards. Chancellor Scholz expressed his vision for an enlarged EU with 30 to 36 Member States including western Balkan candidate countries, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia.  Stating the shift in the centre of gravity towards the East, he also underlined the need for reform in decision making and institutional set-up before such an enlargement could take place. He also gave support to the idea of a European Political Community which was put forward previously by President Macron of France. European Political Community would exist separately from the EU and include non-EU countries of Europe such as the UK and others that may aspire to be EU members in the future. However, Mr. Scholz did not specifically mention Turkey as one of the candidates to join an enlarged EU.

IKV Chairperson Ayhan Zeytinoglu commented on Chancellor Scholz’s speech and the significance of incorporating Turkey into a vision about the future of the EU:

“I watched Chancellor Scholz’s speech on EU enlargement and reform with great interest. I support most of his ideas such as the need to leave unanimity requirement behind in EU decision-making, reforming the EU with a view to enlargement and importance of upholding democracy and rule of law. In view of the situation in Ukraine and the threat from Russia to European security, it seems that the EU does not have any other choice than accommodating demands for enlargement from countries such as Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and the Balkans. It is evident that a reformed and enlarged EU that could bolster its efficiency and effectiveness as well as its geographical scope would be able to play a critical role in the international system and balance out rising authoritarian powers. However, I found it awkward that Turkey was not specifically mentioned in Chancellor Scholz’s speech regarding the future of the EU. If the war in Ukraine necessitated the need for revising and upgrading European security architecture, Turkey should be considered as the first country that needs to be included in this vision. The need to collaborate, cooperate and work together with Turkey has emerged time and again in the 2015-6 refugee crisis, 2019 Eastern Med crisis, 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. As a relevant regional actor in South Eastern Europe with extensive economic, social, cultural and political involvement in adjacent regions, with an advanced export base, industrial and agricultural production, geographically controlling corridors of human movement and energy transmission, Turkey occupies a unique place in an enlarged EU. Turkey’s inclusion in Chancellor Scholz’s vision for the future of the EU would also provide a panacea for existent vulnerabilities such as security risks emanating from the east and the south, energy dependency and conflicts in interstate relations in Eurasia. Turkey’s inclusion into an enlarged EU would also facilitate resolution of the Cyprus question and Aegean dispute between Greece and Turkey. I wholeheartedly support Chancellor Scholz’s emphasis on the need to uphold democratic values and rule of law in the EU. While planning for the future of the EU, contingency should be made for a return to EU reforms in Turkey based on a renewed European perspective. Turkey’s return to European values would also provide for a strong pro-democracy and rule of law effect in existing Member States of the EU which are criticized for deficiencies in this regard.”