Türkiye, Europe and building the “Grand Continent”

The centenary of the Republic bears great significance. While speaking about the interaction between democracy and foreign policy, one prominent aspect to keep always in mind is the country’s international positioning. In this respect, the vision to be put forward on our path towards the European Union (EU) which has been considered as a strategic goal until now, will be of key importance. Among the current political discourses, it is useful to reflect upon two leading approaches:

The first one is the view that an EU without Türkiye cannot be a strategic actor and, moreover, would be doomed to remain in “strategic blindness”.

The second one is the view that if Türkiye overcomes all its deficiencies in terms of democracy, human rights and the rule of law, the EU will no longer have any excuse to hinder our membership.

Leaving aside for a moment the anti-EU sentiment, which can also be found in EU member states, both approaches have understandable grounds.

The “Strategic Positioning” discourse

Indeed, in an international juncture where the parameters of defining “Geopolitical Europe” are put on the table and when heated debates on how best to overcome the current challenges are taking place, our “strategic position” should naturally be one of the focal points. On the other hand, to underline the need for concrete progress from the perspective of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, and to highlight the importance of overcoming challenges in these areas in view of our membership to the EU, is quite natural.

Yet, in both of these approaches, one can identify a growing pessimistic view for our EU membership and a conviction that no progress can be made on the EU path. There are also understandable reasons for this: ups and downs on the “long and thin EU road” as late Özal called it, hopes and disappointments created, efforts made for more than half a century and dilemmas confronted along the way have been among key factors too. The view that a crossroad has been reached and that the process cannot continue as usual seem to gain strength even for people with common sense. What is important now, is to find a strong vision that will provide momentum in line with our strategic goals in the centenary of the Republic.

What does “Grand Continent” mean?

In EU circles it is becoming a more common view that a turning point has been reached when it comes to the geography that is also depicted as the “Grand Continent” – here I am referring to the excellent website “Le Grand Continent” – in other words, the EU and the European architecture beyond it.

In the aftermath of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the return of war to our Continent, the EU is facing a vital challenge. The EU is searching for a sustainable response that also takes into account institutional considerations. The dialectic of EU enlargement and deepening will find its new equilibrium in such a volatile environment. New grounds like the European Political Community (EPC), whose third Summit was held in Granada on 5 October after Prague and Chisinau Summits, should be weighed in this context. In any case, we are in a sensitive process in terms of the structuring of Europe.

It is possible to say that Türkiye’s international position will be even more important in the construction of Europe’s future. The grave developments on the Israeli-Palestinian front have dramatically brought to the agenda the key importance of the Middle East geography and how unresolved problems have a big potential to affect a wider region.

Wider Europe and Türkiye

In such a fragile international environment, Türkiye’s course of action, its call for restraint and moderation, and its contribution to peaceful endeavours are of great importance. Türkiye should reinforce its position as a key actor of peace and stability in the region.

If there is a window of opportunity for our objectives, how should we grasp it? In other words, how can we juxtapose the pictures emerging from the two above-mentioned approaches, which come often to the fore in political discourses, in strengthening the meaning of Türkiye-EU togetherness? What kind of a vision can we put forward as Türkiye with regard to the Future of Europe? Bearing also in mind the Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian geographies, as well as an even wider spectrum due to the Chinese factor.

In this centenary year, we must give rational and realistic answers to all these questions.

We should also not forget that the main challenges in terms of climate change, diversification of energy sources and routes, global health issues such as COVID, dramatically revealed- challenges with regard to combating international terrorism, cyber-attacks and dealing with illegal migration at the global level- are all parts of the larger picture of the analysis.

The concept of “democratic security”

In face of such a wide spectrum and a loaded picture, we need to reenergize and strengthen two concepts: “democratic security” and “comprehensive and co-operative security”. It is time to ensure strong ownership of these two concepts advocated respectively by the Council of Europe (CoE) and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

The CoE and the OSCE are two international organisations in which Türkiye has been an active participant from the very outset. The Fourth CoE Summit was held on 16-17 May 2023 in Reykjavik. At this Summit, the concept of democratic security was re-emphasised. With the fiftieth anniversary of Helsinki approaching, the commitments of the Helsinki Final Act of 1975 and the Paris Charter of 1990 must not become obsolete. Türkiye should contribute in underlining the necessity of upholding these commitments.

Failure in normative processes is the main problem of international organisations today. This challenge can only be overcome through joint efforts. We should now further strengthen our position as an actor of effective multilateralism.

Frustration cannot be a way out

On the other hand, from the very beginning, to the extent of its own capabilities, Türkiye has endeavoured to synchronise with the EU’s steps towards enlargement and deepening. The 1963 Association Agreement, the 1973 Additional Protocol, our 1987 application for full membership, the 1995 Customs Union, the 1998 Helsinki Summit and our status as a candidate country, the start of full membership negotiations in 2005, and even the three Türkiye-EU Summits of 2015-2016 could be considered within this context.

In 2023, the centenary year of our Republic, we must be able to put forward a broad and strong vision for the future of the European architecture and translate it into concrete steps. Pessimism and resentment are no way out. It is also clear that unfounded optimism and naive idealism do not contribute much. We must be determined. Determination can only provide momentum if it turns into concrete action.

Fundamental Freedoms, Secularism, Rule of Law

We need to find the lost charm of Türkiye-EU togetherness again. We should endeavour in this direction with all actors, including civil society. Türkiye-EU acquis has more than enough power and human capacity. We should value our citizens, take fundamental freedoms as a basis, protect secularism, prioritize democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. With such an understanding, let us increase our economic power and aim for security, prosperity and stability. Let us open windows of opportunities especially for the youth.

Türkiye’s potential is undoubtedly great. Its contribution to the future of Europe will undoubtedly be strong. We should be able to see and understand the current topography of Europe more closely. We should make the best use of dialogue, sense of compromise and thinking together.

We should be able to find the arguments for Türkiye’s EU membership not in self-imposed narratives, but in the strength of the European Project itself. This strength is essentially of a quality that can resonate in every aspect of the large spectrum of Türkiye-EU togetherness and enrich the future of Europe. Europe will always remain in the making. The construction of Europe is not a static but a dynamic process. Risks and opportunities will be intertwined. Uncertainty will remain an integral part of the dynamics of European construction.

A new momentum is possible

In this process, a key to overcoming the distinction between “us” and “them” lies in a change of discourse. The way to change narratives is to increase mutual credibility and to build trust. Perceptions are easily established but difficult to overcome.

The centenary of our Republic is a fundamental message in itself. The principle of “Peace at Home, Peace in the World”, which underpins our foreign policy, is a message full of meaning with strong resonance. The centenary year should be a moment that intersects with the message of peace carried by the European integration process and should bring hope for the future.

We should discuss the EU dimension and path to membership which is a strategic goal in such a comprehensive framework with all segments of our society and with self-confidence. We should be able to create a new momentum that will revitalise the process. It is time to embrace our goals, not to move away from them. We can look to the future with confidence on the basis of the achievements of our Republic. Atatürk’s vision will always give us strength.