BAGIS WELCOMES THE "FUTURE OF EUROPE" REPORT

Evaluating the Report of the EU Reflection Group, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis welcomed the "Future of Europe" Report prepared and announced to public by the EU Reflection Group, known also as the "Wise Men", established in 2007 with the aim of carrying out studies on the future of Europe.

In his statement, Bagis said that in his recent meetings with the members of the Group he had the chance to closely observe the Group's commonsensical approach focusing on the future of Europe and keeping out of the daily political concerns and he also had the opportunity to emphasize Turkey's importance for the future of Europe. Bagis stated that the report of the EU Reflection Group acted as an important guidance in terms of the evaluation of the current state and the determination of the ways to solution.

Bagis said that addressing the future of Europe and EU vision by attaching special importance to the enlargement, and mentioning Turkey within this framework proved an admirable far-sighted approach and horizon. Bagis stated that it was important to emphasize the call for an uninterrupted negotiation process for Turkey and that the EU leaders should keep their promises and abide by the "pacta sunt servanda" principle.

Bagis said: "As I have mentioned before by various means, rapidly changing global dynamics and common interests render the integration of Turkey and the EU more vital and indispensible for both parties." Bagis asserted that the EU had an important role in Turkey's modernization and Turkey played the key role for EU's having a more powerful, reliable and stable future.

Bagis declared Turkey's potential to assist the EU to find solutions for some basic areas like energy security, economical issues, defence, foreign and internal security, sustainability in agriculture and environment issues and social dynamism. Bagis underlined that Turkey was the key to solution for Europe in many issues like international terrorism, illegal immigration, smuggling of arms and drugs, human trafficking and struggle against any kind of action agreed as crime, which were especially important today when the globalization had gained speed.

Bagis said: "Turkey is progressing decisively and with enthusiasm towards its aim of EU full membership, which is regarded as a modernisation project. Turkey will realize the reform process necessary for the membership, with the support of all sections of the society." Bagis declared that Turkey which was a member of the European family would take its due position within the European Union; and narrow-minded, visionless political approaches focusing on daily interests could not hinder a great power like Turkey to progress towards its aim. Bagis said: "As Victor Hugo said; nothing can stand against a due action."

Bagis declared his hope that the Report prepared by the European leaders and intellectuals having commonsense and vision would receive the attention it deserved and would contribute to the public support for Turkey's full membership. Bagis said: "By this means, I thank the invaluable members of the EU Reflection Group, who contributed to the preparation of this Report and I congratulate them for preparing such a critical Report away from daily political concerns."