Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Ömer Çelik Spoke at the Estonian Foreign Policy Institute

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Ömer Çelik, who was in Tallinn, Estonia, for a two-day visit, made a speech titled “Europe, Our Common Future: A Turkish Perspective” in a panel moderated by former parliamentarian and diplomat Aap Neljas at the Estonian Foreign Policy Institute.

Minister Çelik said “Türkiye, a European state and democracy, will advance on its path.  Türkiye has come all this way without EU membership and can go on same as always. However, Türkiye’s EU membership will be a gain for Türkiye.  Türkiye’s EU membership will also benefit the European Union (EU) with respect to the preservation of European values, strengthening of the EU economy and the emergence of a stronger Europe in the matters of defence and security.”

Minister Çelik also said “I tell the EU institutions which criticize Türkiye on various matters that we can open Chapters 23 and 24. However, only to criticise Türkiye day and night is not the right political approach.  We are prepared to cooperate if they wish to do so.  We believe that, in the absence of cooperation on these matters, the criticisms of Türkiye are not well-intentioned.