The EU-Turkey relations are at their lowest in recent years, at a time when the EU seems to be facing increasing challenges to promote its interests internationally, while facing rising nationalism internally.
The EU leaders have not shied away from imposing sanctions on Russia, taking distance from the US (after the change of administration in Washington) and build trade defence mechanisms against China. Now, they have also decided to suspend financial assistance and talks for accession with a key ally in its neighborhood, Turkey, in what seems a decisive step on a path of no-return.
Turkey, for its part, has hurt its own relations also with the US and, given its own geo-political placement in a highly volatile area which seems ready to explode at any time, seeks to navigate the ever changing international landscape by making moves which were until recently unthinkable. Chief among these is the considerable rapprochement to its once mighty rival at the Black Sea, Russia. This has raised eyebrows and stirred serious concern among the EU and transatlantic community.
However, Ankara sees things very differently, believing that the EU and Turkey are so interdependent that they cannot afford to go their separate ways on the medium run. Turkey’s top diplomat in Brussels, Ambassador Faruk Kaymakcı, has told VoteWatch Europe the Turkish side of the story. Mr. Kaymakcı argues that the Europeans are not doing enough to understand the challenges faced by Turks at home and he criticises some of the continental leaders who, in his view, hurt bilateral EU-Turkey relations “for their own short-sighted national interests”.
Notably, the Turkish Ambassador continues to underline that “membership to the EU is a strategic goal and the Turkish government is committed towards this goal”. However, he also stresses that Turks’ motivation to join the EU is decreasing when seeing “the surge of the far right across Europe, with xenophobic and anti-Islam political movements finding their way into parliaments, as witnessed in the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and recently Czhecia, and mainstream parties bowing to this populist pressure”.
Here are Ambassador Kaymakcı’s main messages for the European public in this exclusive interview with VoteWatch:
“Our deeply rooted relations with the EU are binding and interdependent in a wide array of areas ranging from trade to security, energy and migration.
Turkey expects the EU to further accelerate both the allocation and spending of the remaining amount from the initial €3 billion EU Facility for Refugees in Turkey in order to move on to the second €3 billion tranche, as undertaken by the EU in the 18 March Statement. Contrary to some deliberately distorted claims by certain media circles, this funding is not granted to the Turkish Government. In fact, this Facility is directly allocated to the Syrians under temporary protection in Turkey, under the auspices of mostly EU NGOs and aid agencies.
As Turkey recovers from the 15 July trauma, we are speedily returning to normalcy which in turn will give way to the revitalization of our accession negotiations. Working on negotiation chapters would surely help Turkey further realign with the EU.
The update of Turkey-EU 1996 Customs Union is a win-win case and its acceleration has been agreed by both Turkish and EU leaders. The update process should not be taken hostage or politicized domestically by certain EU members for their short-sighted national interests. This is also against our common European spirit.
Turkey-EU relations and Turkish accession process are beyond financial cooperation.
Turkey expects the EU to do the following in the short run:
- Try to better understand Turkey especially following the 15 July coup attempt.
- Assume its anchoring role in a fair manner towards candidate Turkey. This would encourage Turkey’s accession perspective as well as progressive and reformist steps.
- Take concrete measures in the fight against terrorism, especially as regards FETO, PKK, DEASH and DHKP-C. EU’s determined steps in this direction will help restore confidence between Turkey and the EU.
75% of Turks still want to see Turkey as a member of the EU, given that Turkey is treated equally and fairly. Moreover, 90% of Turkish youth are in favour of Turkey’s membership. Membership to the EU is a strategic goal and the Turkish government is committed towards this goal.
On the other hand, the surge of the far right across Europe, with xenophobic and anti-Islam political movements finding their way into parliaments, as witnessed in the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and recently Czhecia, and mainstream parties bowing to this populist pressure, the hope and motivation not only of Turks to join the EU, but also those of EU citizens in the EU itself, are unfortunately diminishing. We have to aim for a brighter, harmonious and embracing EU.
Turkey’s membership to the EU would perhaps be the most challenging of all accession processes, past and prospective. But no doubt it will be the most beneficial, most meaningful and certainly the most useful by bringing additional value to the EU in terms of security; cooperation on energy, transport and counter-terrorism; economic dynamism; global influence, credibility and finally, deeper West-East dialogue.”
Read full interview below:
VoteWatch: Your Excellency, it’s been almost 1 year since you were re-posted to Brussels, as Ambassador of Turkey to the EU. This has been a quite eventful year for the EU-Turkey relationship. How would you describe the current status of these relations?
Ambassador Faruk Kaymakcı: This is actually the third time I am posted to our Permanent Delegation here in Brussels. So I have profound insight into the nature of Turkey-EU relations. Last year was indeed quite an intense year which demonstrated that Turkey-EU relations are mutually indispensable. This is mainly due to the fact that our deeply rooted relations with the EU are binding and interdependent in a wide array of areas ranging from trade to security, energy and migration.
The EU and Turkey are both going through challenging times. Having deterred an existential crisis of irregular migration and the problem of Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs) with the help of Turkey, the EU is grappling with Brexit and fundamental questions about the future of the Union as well as populism, the rise of the far right, xenophobia and Euroscepticism. Turkey on the other hand, is recovering from the failed coup attempt of 15 July 2016, perpetrated by the Fetullahist Terrorist Organization (FETO), which directly targeted its democratic institutions and sovereignty. I believe that with better mutual understanding, Turkey-EU relations and Turkey’s accession process are destined to improve and progress to the interests of everyone.
VoteWatch: In May 2017, President Erdogan and his counterparts from the European institutions reinforced their dedication for the partnership between Turkey and EU. Among the cooperation areas established back then, we can mention the fight against international terrorism, curb of irregular migration and the assumption of keeping the accession process alive. To what extent did the accomplishment of these desiderates become a reality?
Ambassador Faruk Kaymakcı: On 25 May 2017 President Erdoğan met with the three Presidents of the EU institutions: Council President Tusk, Commission President Juncker and the European Parliament President Tajani. The sides reaffirmed their commitment to revive relations on the basis of the commitments as promulgated by the 18 March Statement (2016).
Turkey is the most crucial partner in Europe in the fight against DEASH and FTFs. As a member of the International Coalition against DEASH and one of the co-chairs of the Working Group on FTFs, Turkish security forces neutralized more than 3,000 DEASH terrorists in Syria and Iraq.
Unfortunately, it was only after the horrendous attacks carried out by DEASH affiliated terrorists in the heart of Europe that the EU reacted swiftly to take heed of Turkey’s warnings on the nature and scope of the threat and the necessity to pool data on FTFs. Since then, Turkey and the EU have regular institutional dialogue in order to ensure coordination at the highest level possible.
Increased cooperation with the EU has allowed Turkey to take even more effective measures against FTFs. In this vein, more than 53,000 persons are included in our no-entry list and more than 5,000 suspected individuals have been deported. Risk Analysis Units at Turkish airports denied entry to more than 4,000 suspected FTFs. Furthermore, 8,310 DEASH, El-Nusra and Al-Qaida affiliated individuals, including 3,738 foreigners, have been detained and 2,918 DEASH, El-Nusra and Al Qaida affiliated individuals are under arrest.
As witnessed by the previous attacks carried out by DEASH, there is still ground to be covered in terms of timely information and data sharing among European countries, especially as regards FTFs. Given that Turkey is under threat by numerous terrorist organizations, mainly, Fetullahist Terrorist Organization (FETO), PKK, DEASH and DHKP-C, the level of cooperation and intelligence coordination between Turkey and its European partners is far from sufficient. We expect the EU to take tangible steps to prevent the PKK, which is on the EU’s terrorist organizations’ list, campaigning in Member States as well as displaying its symbols in EU institutions.
In terms of our continuing cooperation against irregular migration, Turkey expects the EU to fulfill its commitments emanating from the 18 March Statement in a timely manner. In this connection, Turkey expects the EU to accelerate both the allocation and spending of the remaining amount from the initial €3 billion EU Facility for Refugees in Turkey in order to move on to the second €3 billion tranche, as undertaken by the EU in the 18 March Statement. Contrary to some deliberately distorted claims by certain media circles, this funding is not granted to the Turkish Government. In fact, this Facility is directly allocated to the Syrians under temporary protection in Turkey, under the auspices of mostly EU NGOs and aid agencies. Another outstanding commitment on the EU’s part is the Voluntary Humanitarian Admission Scheme (VHAS). Once initiated, the VHAS will create not only a legal and dignified pathway for Syrian refugees but also allow the EU to better manage migration.
Turkey is overcoming the deep trauma that the FETO failed coup attempt of 15 July had inflicted. It is essential for the wider EU public opinion to be informed about this clandestine organization and its networking structures in order to fully grasp the context and the nature as well as the magnitude of the threat posed by this menace. As Turkey recovers from the 15 July trauma, we are speedily returning to normalcy which in turn will give way to the revitalization of our accession negotiations. Working on negotiation chapters would surely help Turkey further realign with the EU.
The update of Turkey-EU 1996 Customs Union is a win-win case and its acceleration has been agreed by both Turkish and EU leaders. The update process should not be taken hostage or politicized domestically by certain EU members. This is also against our common European spirit.
VoteWatch: The EU countries threaten with the suspension of EU funding to Turkey. If this were to happen, would this have any impact at all in Turkey?
Ambassador Faruk Kaymakcı: Turkey actually benefits the least among candidate countries from IPA funds in per capita terms. On the other hand, IPA funds are preparing both Turkey and the EU for a smoother accession process. We see IPA funds as working together rather than money. What is important is that IPA funds facilitate and foster joint projects between Turkey and the EU in various areas, ranging from social cohesion, civil society to agriculture and the environment to the interests of both sides. Turkey-EU relations and Turkish accession process are beyond financial cooperation and dimension.
VoteWatch: Just recently, President Putin made a state visit to Turkey, another step in what seems to be a remarkable rapprochement between the two countries, while the Turkish-US relation seems to be suffering. The EU community in Brussels is looking at these developments worryingly. What should the EU do to facilitate the reconciliation with Ankara?
Ambassador Faruk Kaymakcı: Turkey is an important regional actor. Hence it is only natural that it has meaningful relations with Russia and other international actors for that matter. Interest shown by the EU public opinion towards Turkey-Russia relations is actually a good sign in recognizing the intermediary role Turkey could play in EU’s external relations with other international actors.
As for our relations with the US, we see complications not only in Turkey-US relations but also in the relations of the US with other entities such as the EU in various areas. Turkey, as a European NATO ally only wishes better transatlantic relations and wider cooperation in the interests of all allies.
For the second part of your question; Turkey expects the EU to do the following in the short run:
Try to better understand Turkey especially following the 15 July coup attempt.
Assume its anchoring role in a fair manner towards candidate Turkey. This would encourage Turkey’s accession perspective as well as progressive and reformist steps.
Take concrete measures in the fight against terrorism, especially as regards FETO, PKK, DEASH and DHKP-C. EU’s determined steps in this direction will help restore confidence between Turkey and the EU.
Updating the Customs Union will be a win-win project. Taking the decision to start the upgrading of the Customs Union should not be allowed to be politicized and therefore be hindered by individual member states for their short-sighted national interests.
Stick to commitments made by 18 March Statement.
VoteWatch: According to the polls, more than 75% of Turkish citizens still want their country to join the EU. However, is such a scenario still being considered realistic in Ankara?
Ambassador Faruk Kaymakcı: Yes, indeed 75% of Turks still want to see Turkey as a member of the EU, given that Turkey is treated equally and fairly. Moreover, 90% of Turkish youth are in favour of Turkey’s membership. Membership to the EU is a strategic goal and the Turkish government is committed towards this goal. On the other hand, the surge of the far right across Europe, with xenophobic and anti-Islam political movements finding their way into parliaments, as witnessed in the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and recently Czhecia, and mainstream parties bowing to this populist pressure, the hope and motivation not only of Turks to join the EU, but also those of EU citizens in the EU itself, are unfortunately diminishing. We have to aim for a brighter, harmonious and embracing EU.
Turkey’s membership to the EU would perhaps be the most challenging of all accession processes, past and prospective. But no doubt it will be the most beneficial, most meaningful and certainly the most useful by bringing additional value to the EU in terms of security; cooperation on energy, transport and counter-terrorism; economic dynamism; global influence, credibility and finally, deeper West-East dialogue.