EGEMEN BAGIS PAYS AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO THE UK

Paying official visit to England on February 12-13, 2013, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bağış met with the Minister of State for Europe David Lidington, the Mayor of London Boris Johnson and other British officers.

Within the scope of his visits on February, 12, Minister Bağış met with the Spokesman on Foreign Relations and Defence in the House of Lords, Lord William Wallace. Delivering a speech at the meeting, Minister Bağış stated that Turkey can play a vital role in the expansion of EU’s messages of peace, democracy, human rights and welfare to a wider geography. Moreover, Lord William Wallace underlined British government’s support to Turkey’s EU membership and expressed their need for Turkey’s partnership and recommendation on the transition process in Middle East.

On the same day, Minister Bağış also met with the members of the Parliamentary Group on EU Enlargement. Making a speech in the meeting Minister Bağış, stressed the need for an increased cooperation between Turkey and EU and stated that EU is stil the biggest peace Project of the history of mankind despite ongoing economic troubles.

During his official visit, Minister Bağış also made an interview with the Financial Times. In his interview, Minister Bağış stated that he was hopeful fort he opening of the chapter on Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments in the first half of 2013 during the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU. However,Minister Bağış also added that “At a time when Europe is going through its own monetary problems, getting a consensus among EU states on opening Chapter 17 on monetary policy would be hard, but not impossible”. In response to a question on the progress about the visa liberalization process, Minister said that “It takes two to tango. We are on the dance floor waiting for the Commission to join us.”

In the second day of his official visit to England, Egemen Bağış first met with the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson on February 13, 2013. Expressing his gratitude for being in London, Minister Bağış stated his wish to learn from the experiences of London about Olympics. Boris Johnson in return expressed his full support for İstanbul’s candidacy for 2020 Olympics.

After the meting Minister Bağış met with the Minister of State for Europe, David Lidington. Minister Bağış completed his visit after giving a conference titled “Turkey and UK: Towards a Reformed EU” at the The Royal United Services Institute’da (RUSI).