"100 TURKISH CHILDREN" IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

Within the scope of the activity "100 Turkish children in the European Union" realized within the framework of 9 May Europe Day Celebrations and in cooperation with Bilfen Schools, a group of students made a presentation at the European Parliament in Brussels.

Delivering a speech by addressing the members of "Friends of Turkey Group", Minister for EU Affairs and the Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis emphasized that those who would solve Europe's economic and social problems were the Turkish young people.

Egemen Bagis said: "Turkish children should be able to continue to see Europe as an area of freedom and prosperity. It is impossible not to agree with their questions such as 'Why can't we travel in the European Union freely' or 'As we see ourselves as a part of the European Union, why don't the Europeans think so?'

Stating that well educated Turkish young people would add dynamism to the EU and therefore would fill labour force deficit resulting from the ageing of the population of Europe. Bagis said: "Turkey will not be burden on Europe; on the contrary, it will ease the problems Europe is confronted with".

Saying that the myths such as "too large, too poor and heavily Muslim" would be destroyed by the objectivity of children in Turkey and in Europe, Bagis said: "Our children will clearly explain that Turkey is not a very poor country, they will say that it is in fact the 16th biggest economy of the world. Our young people will prove that Turkey's contribution in every field ranging from economy to peace is very high."

Within the framework of the activities, the students gave the message to the European decision makers that "We are the key for the future of the European Union".

Source: AA