TÜRKÇE
  Updated: 14/11/2017

2018 Budget of the Ministry for EU Affairs is Endorsed by the Plan and Budget Committee of the Parliament

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Ömer Çelik presented the 2018 budget of the Ministry for European Union Affairs at the Plan and Budget Committee of Turkish Grand National Assembly. Minister Ömer Çelik responded the questions of the parliamentarians on the 2018 budget of the Ministry.

Presenting detailed information on the current issues between Türkiye and the EU, Minister Ömer Çelik underlined that EU membership is a strategic goal for Türkiye.

Please find below some remarks from the speech of Minister Ömer Çelik delivered to the Plan and Budget Committee. 

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Ömer Çelik emphasized in his speech on the 2018 budget at the TGNA Plan and Budget Commission that Türkiye was a vital country and partner for the EU regarding the fight against terrorism and irregular migration.  Minister Çelik said: “The EU has no partner other than Türkiye in the fight against terrorism. Furthermore, Türkiye is the only country that has the capacity for the management of irregular migration in the region.”

Minister for EU Affairs Ömer Çelik indicated that Brexit, the stance of the US administration to the EU and the rise of the far-right were the new challenges for the EU, and that the main problems on the agenda of Europe were economic crisis, the fight against terrorism and migration.

Indicating that Brexit and the distant stance of the US administration to the EU was pushing the EU to seek new alliances, Minister Çelik said: “The fracture in transatlantic relations necessitates the redefinition of the role of the EU, especially with reference to security.”

Referring to the rise of the far-right in elections held in Europe in 2017, Minister Ömer Çelik said that the rise of the far-right had become institutionalised and that this situation was not temporary.

Minister Ömer Çelik, who emphasized that the centre right and centre left lost votes when politics in Europe was fragmented, said: “This is an extremely dangerous development for democrats and those who believe in freedom, as well as for Muslims and Turkish people living in Europe.”

Minister for EU Affairs Ömer Çelik, who pointed out the Türkiye’s EU membership was the way to advance the European Project, also noted that the existential crisis of the EU caused the EU to favour neighbourhood policy over enlargement policy.

Minister Çelik emphasized that the EU did not provide sufficient support to Türkiye regarding the 15 July coup attempt by FETO and that this had an impact on Türkiye-EU relations. Minister Çelik said:

“I say here as the Minister for EU Affairs: All MP’s refused to leave our Parliament that night even in the face of the threat of death. However, the President of the European Parliament visited Türkiye, a European country and a European democracy for a century, only after three or four months after such a coup attempt. In this period, the European Parliament passed an unfortunate resolution and propounded the approach of suspending accession negotiations with Türkiye. This is a typical orientalist approach.

Minister of EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Ömer Çelik indicated that one of the most important problems between Türkiye and the EU was the protection of FETO and the PKK in European countries. Minister Çelik said: “Our expectation is for Europe to prevent the activities of FETO and the PKK. Türkiye-EU relations will progress more rapidly if these activities are prevented.”

 

 

 

 


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Updated: 14/11/2017 / Hit: 6,271