'Turkey firmly maintains its strategic choice and target of becoming an EU member and to continue working towards this purpose with determination' Opinion | Faruk Kaymakci, Turkey's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director for EU Affairs
Europe is going through extraordinary times, which precludes us from foreseeing how the greatest political project in history will transform under existential pressures from both within and outside.The migration crisis, the threat of terrorism, Brexit, the rise of extremist political parties, as well as other challenges in the global context have continued to constrict the EU, triggering divergence among member states and fueling Euroscepticism among the population of several countries.
Moreover, divisions over economics, culture and geography have challenged member states' as well as candidate countries’ ability to pursue the EU agenda. Such a moment has unfortunately been reached today. The current crisis has brought about the necessity for the readjustment of this project that no longer serves the needs of the day properly. What is meant by readjustment is more pro-active involvement and strategic thinking in order to counterbalance destabilising forces and isolationist or protectionist tendencies in the international system.Despite everything, the EU can regain confidence and assert itself as a global actor.
Unfortunately, accession negotiations have came to a standstill due to narrow-minded political hindrances. The EU has taken decisions that alienate Turkey rather than encourage it, as was demonstrated with the recent round of so-called “sanctions”. However, the Turkish accession process is far more resilient to outside shocks, political rhetoric, populist discourses or "enlargement fatigue" than it is considered to be.
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