Europe and Turkey have a shared history that goes back several centuries, having shared moments of both peace and conflicts, having survived empires and world wars together. Today, our fate and our future continue to be connected, with the instability in our shared and immediate neighbourhood resulting in refugee flows on the one hand, and terrorist and sectarian violence on the other.
Istanbul, Ankara, Paris, Brussels, Berlin – terrorism knows no borders, and our cities and regions have equally been affected by the horrors of such tragic attacks. The EU and Turkey have stood shoulder to shoulder in unconditionally rejecting and fighting terrorism.
In parallel, Turkish and European citizens have shown immense hospitality and solidarity in receiving several million people in need of protection and fleeing conflict in the neighbourhood. The EU remains ever more committed and engaged in finding a political solution and stability in Syria.
At the same time, the Commission is also fully committed to ensure continued and full implementation of the EU-Turkey statement, which is a contract of mutual trust and delivery, and is to the equal interest and benefit of both. The Commission equally continues to provide support and expertise to the Turkish authorities to accelerate the reforms needed in order to fulfil the remaining benchmarks of the visa liberalisation roadmap.
Today, the challenges of migration and security are putting pressure on domestic political agendas, but also on cooperation between countries – we see this both inside and outside the European Union. In times of rapid changes, of increasing globalisation, many uncertainties arise and our citizens are asking for straightforward and concrete answers – whether they are Turkish, Greek, Dutch or German.
Our first duty is to address these concerns, and to protect the safety and freedom of our citizens.
But we can only truly and effectively do this together, in a continuous, open and direct dialogue between the EU and Turkey as we have historically paved it.
When challenging and difficult moments arise, Turkey and the EU must remember their strong and shared past – and must look towards their shared future.
Our citizens count on sustained stability and prosperity, based on the rights, freedom and rules of our democratic societies.
But no country is an island. Stability, prosperity, the rule of law, freedom – the cornerstones of our modern democracies are achieved through alliances and collaboration, through working together across borders, across nations.
Turkey and the EU must never lose the bigger picture out of sight. Turkey and the EU are historical partners, who have tackled together geopolitical challenges in the past, and will continue to do so in the future too. Turkey needs the EU and the EU needs Turkey – to better manage migration, to jointly fight terrorism, to bring peace and stability in the wider region.
In these turbulent moments for the EU and Turkey we must all avoid whatever could undermine our cooperation and give way to prudence, self-constraint and focus on the mutual interest.
Any potential regression of our relations would be, in the long run, detrimental for everyone.
Let there be no doubt, working together is beneficial for both.