Turkey to increase EU efficiency, Gul says

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish President Abdullah Gül has said Turkey's accession to the European Union is “a strategic imperative for the European integration project,” which he said “will no doubt increase the 27-nation bloc's efficiency, relevance and credibility.”

The president's remark came as he was speaking to students at the College of Europe at Natolin, Poland, during his trip to the European Union member state.

He said the EU with Turkey “will be much more influential in the Balkans, the Mediterranean, the Black Sea, the Caucasus and the Middle East,” adding that Turkey's accession to the EU “will only help Europe find the role it deserves in this newly emerging global order.”

According to Gul, Turkey “has much to contribute to the EU” so that it would not turn into what he warned earlier to be "an inward-looking organization" with its global influence and strategic outreach ending at the borders of its members.

“An EU including Turkey will be more successful in dealing with both external and internal threats to Europe's security, and whatever challenges Europe may face, Turkey is a partner,” Gul assured.

"We believe that Europe will never reach its full potential unless integration with Turkey materializes," he said.

Gül also warned the 27-nation bloc against ignoring this "strategic imperative" and trying to keep Turkey out of the European integration process and said this means missing the "broader geostrategic picture," Today’s Zaman reported.