Hakan Fidan: EU-Turkey relations must return to the “pre Sarkozy” era

Its foreign minister asked that his country’s relations with the EU be returned to the spirit of cooperation that existed before the French former President Nicolas Sarkozy’s term of office. “Our appreciation is that Turkey and Europe in general, and Turkey and France in particular, must return to the pre-Sarkozi line,” said Hakan Fidan, adding that by Sarkozy time, the political leaders of Germany and France, two major European countries, saw Turkey’s accession to the European Union as a strategic step. CORVERSE With Sarkozy, the Turkish Ministry noted, Turkey’s accession became an internal policy subject and Turkey began to be treated as part of the debate on identity policy. Nicolas Sarkozy served as President of France from 2007 to 2012. The head of Turkish diplomacy noted that there are two approaches to strengthening Europe’s security: The first of these approaches is that Europe should create its own centre of gravity in its region, including Turkey and adopting a geostrategic concept that will make it more resistant to international chaos and geopolitical risks. The second approach, Hakan Fidan said, is to remain Europe ‘excessively dependent on third parties’ in terms of its own security. ADVERSE “If Turkey had joined the European Union in 2007 or 2008… Back when it was golden. Because when Turkey was given this clear road map, reforms for the EU were under way and no international player threatened Turkey. Because they knew how well Turkey was treated by the European Union and that a process with merit criteria was under way. But then Turkey’s accession became part of the debate on identity policy in Europe’s internal policy,” Hakan Fidan said and asked for this attitude to be changed. “We must return to the “pre Sarkozy” line. Therefore, a respectable path for accession should be opened. Turkey should join Europe to create a more effective force in the region.” Referring to the visit of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leien, to Turkey, Hakan Fidan argued that the impression he gained is that the European official wishes her to have an opportunity to launch a political dialogue of high level between ‘Anchor and Brussels and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan “is certainly willing to move in this direction”.