Speaking during a meeting organized by the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON) in Brussels, Babacan said the EU had concerns about the future of some of its member countries’ economies, particularly Greece, but there is no longer such a problem when the issue of Turkey’s integration with the union is on the table.
“Today, the EU cannot tell Turkey that it cannot be accepted as a member because its national income is too low or because it is poor. If they claim that Turkey’s entry would shake the economic balance in the union, then we have the right to ask them to explain what they are planning to do with such relatively poor countries as Bulgaria and Romania.”
Babacan noted that Turkey, which began an economic integration process with the EU following a customs union agreement in 1996, had to follow developments in the European economy closely.
Regarding the EU’s current financial problems, Babacan said the union failed to introduce a strategy that would help it recover from the crisis. “This situation causes great uncertainty,” Babacan said. He noted that Turkey maintaained its credibility in global markets by carrying out timely reforms and had brought its budget deficit under control thanks to recent structural measures.
Stating that the EU might naturally remain cool to enlargement due to its economic problems and internal issues, Babacan said Turkey’s status as a country that would take a load off the union’s shoulders would make it more desirable for Brussels. He said the EU would have a more positive attitude toward Turkey as it became aware of the country’s potential.
Commenting on the government’s constitutional amendment package, Babacan said Turkey would make remarkable progress toward complying with EU standards once the package was implemented. “This will have positive effects on the economy in the long term,” he said.
