"TURKEY WILL EITHER BE A MEMBER TO EU OR WILL NEVER BE"

Stating that Turkey would never accept the proposals of "privileged partnership" Egemen Bagis, Minister for EU Affairs and the Chief Negotiator said: "Turkey will either be a full member to EU or will never be."

Bagis replied the questions of Le Monde regarding Turkey-EU relations and the latest European Parliament elections.

Stating that the European Parliament Elections was not something to be surprised at, Bagis particularly criticised some politicians from France and Germany who made the issue of Turkey a material for the elections.

Reminding that some European politicians fell back on unnecessary political arguments, Bagis said: "The European leaders should have focused on more to finding out a solution to our common problems."

Noting that Europe, encountered problems such as energy security, defense, migration, economic crisis, terror, human trafficking, Bagis stated that Turkey's.membership to EU would contribute more to the solution of those problems.

Bagis stated :"More than Turkey's need for EU, EU is in need of Turkey."

Criticising the proposals related to privileged partnership, Bagis pointed out that that proposal did not have any legal basis and he stated that Turkey which had Customs Union Agreement with the EU and which was a party to the European Institutions and with its citizens over five million living in Europe, Turkey was already in Europe.

Giving detailed information regarding the reforms the government realized in Turkey, Bagis expressed that the opposing parties slowed down Turkey by creating various obstacles.

Resource: AA