Five flags of BRICS and stars of the European Union

When I read the statements and comments on the current debate around BRICS membership and our EU aspirations, I felt the need to take another look at the relevant websites.

On one side I saw five flags – those of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. I also saw a drawing of a world map with the Latin American and African continents on the palms of two hands, titled “Regional Integration Gaining Support Across the Global South”; with an article by an analyst, Yaroslav Lissovolik. The message is that BRICS continues to attract attention, it is getting stronger…

On the other one, I noticed the EU flag with a dove of peace replacing one of the stars, and below that “Your gateway to the European Union” and further down “Discover Europe”… and then strategies, goals, documents. There are also many documents on the BRICS site…

Determining plans, programs and strategies

Following the European Parliament (EP) elections last June, the European Union (EU) has set out some priorities that will shape its political program in the coming period. These priorities, including upholding European values within the EU and living up to EU values at global level, are included in the EU Strategic Program for 2024-2029. The newly announced members of the European Commission, chaired by Ursula Von der Leyen, will draw inspiration for their work program in the framework of their five-year mandate, if they receive approval from the EP. The recently published comprehensive Draghi report will be an important reference document.

After all, it is a plan, a program, a work, a strategy, a joint effort. It is an itinerary that may falter and have its ups and downs, but it is an itinerary created by those who can keep their vision of the future alive on the road to an ever closer union.

It will be natural for Türkiye to scrutinize the EU’s priorities, goals and work program as it always does. After all, our interest in the EU is not new, and the nature and status of our relations are different from those of any third country.

The answer to the question “What is Europe?

The following words of Denis de Rougemont, one of the key thinkers on the European ideal, in his “Open Letter to Europeans” (1970) are striking and in a way summarize the current situation well:

“If I was suddenly asked, “What is Europe? Can you answer in one sentence?”, my answer is: ”Europe is something that must be united […] Because what we call European idea is essentially a program, a creative act.”

At a stage when we are leaving behind the centenary of our Republic, what should Türkiye’s perspective be in this sense? In other words, if you were suddenly asked the question “What is Europe?”, what would be your answer?

Undoubtedly, it is important to look at the European Project in its political, economic and security dimensions. The current challenges reveal also the need to revisit the rich philosophical, cultural, sociological, historical and geographical dimensions of this process and the need to renew a strong vision around Türkiye’s unique position.

Türkiye and Europe

We have well-known Ottoman and Republican historians, cultural and scientific figures whose works offer singular perspectives on the European idea. Türkiye needs to be able to appreciate its own perspective on the European idea, its experience and problematic, and its reading of history and geography in today’s turbulent and challenging global environment.

The peace vision of Atatürk, the founder of our Republic, can also be seen as a leadership in which the answer to the question “What is Europe?” was given as “something that needs to be unified, a program, a creative act”.

It should not be difficult to look again for references in the speeches and steps taken by İsmet İnönü, Turgut Özal and Süleyman Demirel to answer the questions “What is Europe?” and “What is Türkiye’s contribution to the European idea?” and to identify our own position.

After more than two years of war that started as a result of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, one cannot help but wonder what kind of regional integration, with whom and for what goals? To serve what kind of global environment? What kind of preference does BRICS symbolize?

BRICS and EU

On the other hand, when you look at the positions taken or not taken in the face of the tragic developments in the Middle East, you cannot help but ask yourself whether the dove of peace is still clinging to those stars.

What matters? For the Republic of Türkiye to continue to be in a position to ensure regional ownership and to reinforce effectiveness at the global level in order to serve peace, stability and prosperity. As President Demirel put it in his inaugural address to the Turkish National Assembly in 1996, “Europe is neither a solution to every problem, nor is it responsible for every trouble”. BRICS’ founding countries, within their respective history and geography, cannot be underestimated. On the other hand, Türkiye’s deepening partnership policy in Africa and its reach out to the countries in Latin America as well as initiatives such as the Asia Anew are important. BRICS is, after all, a platform.

But we have to be conscious that the meaning of our goal for EU membership is quite different. EU is a political space in the making, it should not be viewed solely as the subject of foreign policy. This is a choice to be part of a process that involves the dynamics of all the segments of the society. You make this choice with your voluntary will. You are saying that you should be an actor in building the future together, and in seeing Europe as “something that needs to be united”.

Reasons to have reservations

The main actors of our Republic did not make this choice blindly. If you reread Turgut Özal’s statements in his press conference on April 14, 1987, after our application for full membership to the EU, you will see this.

One of the indispensable elements of respectability and credibility in multidimensional foreign policy is that the gaze directed towards you clearly sees your stance and line. Which stance do we want outsiders to see? Maintaining the traditional principles and balances of Turkish foreign policy and Atatürk’s vision of “Peace at Home, Peace in the World” is vital in this respect.

It is also important that we embrace organizations such as the Council of Europe (CoE) and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), of which we are founding members, and strengthen the concepts of “democratic security” and “comprehensive and cooperative security”. Even if there could be reasons to be skeptical, why should we not look to Europe and beyond by bringing also our contribution within new initiatives such as the “European Political Community (EPS)”, which intends to play a role in the architecture of the Great Continent.

What should our measures be?

In her book “Twilight of Universalism” (Le Crépuscule de l’Universel), Chantal Delsol pointed out, a few years ago, the fragility of the ground of values. The search for the ideal is not, of course, about glorifying one side and denigrating the other. Reaching out to the Other, being rational, capturing the universal, putting human dignity above all else should help us in defining the “us” on the ground of values. In the face of real challenges, the need to be politically, militarily, economically strong and equipped with technological innovations is undeniable. Just as the importance of embracing education, science and the requirements of citizenship with modern criteria cannot be denied.

The answer is clear: democracy, rule of law and respect for human rights. We must give this answer first and foremost for our own people. We must make these pillars as the main priorities when looking at ourselves. And when testing togertheness abroad, we must be able to turn the scales precisely to the settings that reflect these priorities.

The vision of the Founders of our Republic certainly needs to be preserved and cherished.