ARTICLE BY BAGIS PUBLISHED IN EUROPOLITICS

Article of Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis titled “Turkish experience for Europe: Invest in democracy” has been published in Europolitics which is a prestigious press agency followed closely by European Union circles. 

In his article, where he asked European Union to resolve the crisis within the context of democracy as the way Turkey does, Bagis stated that:

We are passing through a very specialera in the history of our globe. Theglobal economic crisis is changing thearchitecture of the world economy andpolitics. What started as a financial crisishas begun to turn into a political oneespecially in some European countries,such as Greece and Italy. Technocraticgovernments came into powerin those countries when the electedgovernments resigned.

Next to the capability of the EuropeanUnion to overcome the global financialcrisis, the question whether the EuropeanUnion sees the current democratic deficitas legitimate while struggling with theeconomic deficits is a big concern now.

The recent experiences of Greece andItaly cause some doubts about the EU’ssincerity on that issue. What we are witnessingis economic coups overthrowingthe democratic and elected governments.

It seems to be a real test in the near futurefor the EU how to sustain the balancebetween democracy and economy. Turkeysincerely warns the European friends thatthe EU can do nothing but undermine itsown rules and values by moving away fromthe democratic framework.

The only legitimate and effective toolto overcome the economic crisis is truedemocracy. Our experience in Turkeyfor nine years is inspirational. The twomagic words behind Turkey’s great economictransformation are stability andconfidence. Our strong and stable democraticgovernment has been implementinga spectacular political and economicreform campaign during nine years inpower. Our political programme envisagesan upgraded democracy, a transparentand accountable administration,better governance and a developed civilsociety. Actually, the AK Party is the mostreformist and most liberal governmentin Turkish history, which has broughtTurkey into a more powerful position inthe global problems. Turkey is now oneof the leading countries in its region.

The most important achievement of oursis investment we made in democracy inthe last nine years. Now Turkey has beenputting its imprint on the global stagewith its impressive economic developmentand political stability.

Turkey has a lot to contribute to worldwelfare as well as to Europe’s. Thanks tothe structural reforms following the 2001crisis, Turkey is now enjoying a remarkableeconomic performance. The most importantingredient when solving our criseswas a strong and stable democratic government,which enjoyed the confidenceof our citizens and global investors. Currently,Turkey is the 16th largest economyin the world and the 6th largest economyin Europe. The OECD estimates thatTurkey will be the second highest growingcountry after China by 2017. The Turkisheconomy, which grew by 8.9% in 2010 andby 10.2% during the first half of 2011, isfuelled by direct global investments.

What is interesting is that 85% of allglobal investments in Turkey and 92% ofinvestments made in the first half of 2011have come from EU member countries.

This is a clear indication that the businessand economic decision makers ofEurope are much ahead of their politicalcounterparts.

Turkey’s demographic structure canbe regarded as the “missing part of theEuropean puzzle”.

Turkey has a young, dynamic, welleducatedand multicultural population.

According to the UN, Turkey enteredinto a period of “demographic window ofopportunity,” which is expected to continueuntil the mid-21st century. Thiswill certainly be a boost period forthe Turkish economy as a whole bycreating a complementary circle of“consuming more, producing moreand growing more,” which will be agolden opportunity for Europe, too.

Alongside her large and growingdomestic market, mature anddynamic private sector, leading rolein the region, liberal and secureinvestment environment, supply ofhigh quality and cost-effective laborforce, developed infrastructure andinstitutionalised economy, Turkeyoffers considerable opportunities andeconomic gains for the EU.

As a natural bridge between both East-West and North-South, Turkey is aneasy access point to natural and energyresources and to global markets especiallyincluding the large markets of theBalkans, Eurasia, the Middle East andNorth Africa. Some 70% of the energyresources are located in the South andthe East of Turkey, while the largestenergy consumer, Europe, is located inthe West.

Turkey’s accession will increase thesize of the European internal market aswell as the competitiveness of the EUin the global economy. We have alreadyproved that Turkey does not downsize theslices that the EU members get from theEU cake. On the contrary, Turkey willenlarge the size of the cake as a wholewhen she becomes an EU member."

Source: Europolitics