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EU president praised Turkish businessmen in past speech
A five-year-old speech against Turkey’s EU accession process by Van Rompuy, who will take office as president in January, has led to concerns over his likely impact on Turkey’s EU membership bid.
“Turkey is not a part of Europe and will never be a part of Europe,” Van Rompuy said during a meeting of the Council of Europe on the subject of Turkey’s possible entry into the EU, held in the Belgian Parliament in December 2004, suggesting that Europe’s Christian “fundamental values” would be undermined by admitting Turkey into the union.
Nonetheless, records of another speech delivered by Van Rompuy last year when he attended a meeting of the Belgium-Turkish Businessmen Association (BETİAD) shows a warm attitude towards businesspeople who are of Turkish descent in his country, as he praised their entrepreneurial skills.
Expressing gratitude for efforts exerted by businesspeople that are of Turkish descent during the global financial crisis, Van Rompuy, according to the text of his speech obtained by Today’s Zaman, said at the time, “We need courageous businesspeople like you in order to overcome the economic crisis.”
The Belgian politician, who was the guest of honor at the meeting of BETİAD, wishes success to the association, while concluding his speech saying, “Good evening” in Turkish, according to the text.
Soon after his appointment, speaking to reporters in Brussels last week, Van Rompuy was asked questions on his stance concerning Turkey’s EU bid. He responded that from now on, as the EU president, his personal opinions did not matter as he would harmonize his views with the EU’s decisions.
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