Where Turkey Stands with the EU Today: Interview with Ambassador Selim
Yenel
July 10, 2012
By Maria-Antoaneta
Neag
Ambassador Selim Yenel ,
leader of the Permanent Delegation of Turkey to the EU, recently defended
Turkey’s interests in the EU during several meetings at the European
Parliament, allowing Balkanalysis.com contributor
Maria-Antoaneta
Neagthe
opportunity to survey the ambassador on the latest developments in the
EU-Turkey dialogue, as well as Turkey’s enhanced role in regional security.
Background
With an academic background in political science and a long diplomatic
career in the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Selim Yenel was assigned
to posts in Paris (Third Secretary and Second Secretary at the Permanent
Representation of Turkey to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and
Development), Kabul (First Secretary at the Turkish Embassy), New York
(First Secretary and Counsellor at the Permanent Representation of Turkey
to the United Nations) and Brussels (Counsellor and First Counsellor at the
Permanent Delegation of Turkey to the European Economic Community).
[image: Balkanalysis Interview with Ambassador Selim Yenel Where Turkey
Stands with the EU Today: Interview with Ambassador Selim
Yenel]
`Turkey does not want to rebuild any empire’ in the Balkans, stated
Ambassador Yenel, adding that `if the economic and social situation in
these countries improves, it will serve everyone’s interest.’
He was also the Turkish Ambassador to Austria from 2005-2009 and, after a
short period back in Ankara, has served since December 2011 at Turkey’s
Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels.
Symbolic Resistance and Stereotypes against Turkey
EU public opinion is generally restrained, or opposed outright to Turkish
membership. The degrees of intensity here differ from one Member State to
another, and take into account national political agendas. Among the
reasons set forward by politicians are Turkey’s poor record on human
rights, its controversial borders, its migration potential and the fact
that Turkey is allegedly outside Europe’s geographic, cultural and symbolic
borders. Given this general attitude, is Turkey undertaking any current
initiatives aimed to changing these stereotypes, and making a better case
for the country’s added value to the EU?
The Ambassador emphasized that this is `a country-to-country undertaking
and in this sense leadership is essential. If all parties from the
political scene of a country are against Turkey, inevitably the public
opinion in that country will be against Turkey as well. This was the case
in Austria, where I served as an Ambassador.’
Turkey has a strategy for the other sort of countries, too. `Regarding the
remaining critics, we are trying to do our homework and tangible
improvements can already be spotted. There are several laws that will be
passed during the summer addressing some key problems.’
Commenting on the issue of Islam being perceived as a threat to the EU, he
mentioned that many European politicians argue that EU is a Christian-led
project: `all EU countries have Muslim minorities, but this is the key
word: minorities.’
Asked whether Turkish lobbyists, associations, businessmen or Turkish
living abroad are helpful in the EU efforts, Mr. Yenel mentioned that while
Turkish citizens who live abroad and did not integrate in their host
country do not serve Turkey’s EU interests, there are some lobbyists and
Turkish associations that sometimes have proven helpful at improving
Turkey’s image.
Proficient Turkish Representatives in the EU
Turkish representatives in Brussels are very well educated and prepared
to confront the challenges of the EU perspective. However, many politicians
fear that average Turkish citizens have not shown they possess the same
abilities and understanding of EU topics.
The Ambassador replied that in every MS there is a gap between `normal’
citizens and European decision-makers. There are numerous technicalities
involved, he underscored, and this makes it difficult to explain the EU’s
decisions to the EU. Even though the Euro-sceptics are growing in number
throughout Europe, Turkish citizens continue to see the EU’s achievements
as appealing, though these are actually `usually taken for granted by EU
citizens,’ attested Ambassador Yenel, who also mentioned his concern at the
rise of xenophobia and nationalism within EU.
Turkey- Too Big a Country for the EU?
Under the provisions of the Lisbon Treaty, from 2014/2017, a system known
as `double majority voting’ will be introduced in the Council. For a
legislative proposal to go through, the support of two types of majority
will be needed: 55% of EU countries (minimum 15) and at least 65% of the EU
population. Since Turkey has such a numerous population, under this new
system, it can have a good position for achieving the requisite majorities,
thus promoting its interests. Is this looming provision one of the reasons
explaining some MS’ reticence towards accepting Turkey as a MS?
The Ambassador replied that this is not a concerning issue. When a country
will accede to the EU, the figures in the `European architecture’ will
have
to change. If it becomes an EU member, Turkey will most probably receive
the same number of MEPs and votes as Germany. Unfortunately, big countries
like Germany and France are not willing to share their power and this may
be a cause of concern for Turkey.
For this reason, it is important that `the Turkish relationships with
Germany and France are the first ones to be assessed,’ the ambassador
stated. Turkey had some difficulties with France during Sarkozy’s
presidency, but the political changes following the elections make it high
time for the dialogue to advance, added the ambassador.
What Next?
Despite the fact that Turkey is showing good economic results in a time of
crisis, and that it has started some long-awaited reforms, it remains
highly criticized by the EU, mainly over freedom of press and
minorities-related issues. Given the situation, an important question
concerns which issues Turkey should work on most thoroughly, and how the EU
could assist the process to progress in a more efficient way? The
ambassador sought to point out some examples of positive developments
achieved by Turkey due to the EU perspective.
For Ambassador Yenel, the new EU Commission-launched `positive
agenda’,
that foresees joint progress by both the Commission and Turkey on the
chapters that have been blocked so far, is a positive sign. (The Commission
came up with this idea to revive Turkey’s EU momentum).
Enhancing the EU’s institutional coherence (in light of existing divergent
opinions between the Commission, Parliament and Council) can be useful in
the actual advancement of the EU dialogue and enlargement strategies in
general, the ambassador also mentioned. He noted too that the EU has no
more economic concerns regarding Turkey. However, he conceded that Turkey’s
business success, the trade volume between Turkey and EU or the economic
aspect in general does not really have an influence on the EU’s agenda.
Turkey – a Hazardous Adventure for the EU?
Another cause of concern expressed by some countries is Turkey’s foreign
policy, and in particular its difficult relations with Cyprus and Israel.
Moreover, the EU is apprehensive about having such powerful neighbors at
its borders (i.e. Syria, Iran and Iraq).
`It’s not the EU that will have to defend the borders- the Turks will be
the ones living here and not any other Member State citizens,’ noted the
ambassador when asked about the issue. `So we will be facing them. The EU
has no reason to fear, as Turkey is already NATO’s border as well.’
Commenting further on Turkey’s relationship with its neighbors, he
mentioned that a couple of years back, Turkey was trying to be a mediator
between Syria and Israel. They have always tried to keep a good
relationship with Israel, he added. On Cyprus, the ambassador explained
that Turkey is proactively seeking a solution for the island, and that the
Republic of Cyprus is not considered an enemy.
The United Nations finds itself at a standstill here, as EU member states
failed to properly voice their positions, and no action has thus been taken
on Syria, out of fears of Russia or Iran who have different standpoints.
This in turn complicates Turkey’s position vis-à-vis the countries still
favoring the regime in Syria.
In addressing this issue, Mr. Yenel emphasized that this situation can
change and that Russian or Iranian policy positions might also experience
shifts in the future based on the developments on the ground in Syria.
Turkey is cautious, and seeks to avoid conflict, he added. Even in the
context of the recent Turkish warplane downing without prior warning by
Syrian forces, Turkey refrained from retaliation or any military action
whatsoever, concluded the ambassador.
New Natural Resources
As Balkanalysis.com reported in January
2012,
considerable reserves of natural gas have been discovered off of Cyprus.
According to the US Geological Survey ,
there are 122 trillion cubic feet of gas, almost double the reserves of all
EU countries combined.
Addressing this, Ambassador Yenel first underlined the need for accurate
estimation. `We don’t really know how much gas there is. However, if the
Greek Cypriots will start the exploitation, you can be sure you’ll see the
Turkish Cypriot drilling ships right next to them.’
This discovery of gas in the Levantine Basin will thus quite possibly have
an effect on Turkish policies. `Any discovery of natural resources in the
area has to be shared by both Greek and Turkish Cypriots,’ maintained Yenel.
Neo-Ottoman Demography
Visa liberalisation is one of the most sensitive topics for Turkey. Visa
dialogues have been advancing with Russia and other Eastern Partnership
countries and even with the oft-controversial case of Kosovo. The migration
potential issue has been often raised by the countries opposing a a
straightforward visa approach for Turkey.
`Turkey does not want to rebuild any empire,’ attested Ambassador Yenel,
when asked about public speculation that Turkey wishes to rebuild the
Ottoman Empire by means of a demographic surge. `That was in the past. The
EU fears possible waves of migrants from Turkey, but experience shows that
with the new economic developments in Turkey, more and more Turkish
citizens living abroad are deciding to come back and look for their
opportunities at home. In the past, the EU similarly feared the Eastern
European migrants’ invasion, but the reality on the ground showed that this
was not the case.’
In the interview, the ambassador also expressed his disappointment
regarding the long waiting period for the visa liberalization roadmap. The
EU has justified this delay by the lack of a readmission agreement. `Turkey
waited for the Council’s decision to give the Commission the mandate to
negotiate and sign with Turkey the readmission agreement,’ he pointed out.
`Following the signing of this agreement on 21 June 2012, the green light
was given for opening a comprehensive visa dialogue which may lead to the
liberalisation of visas in the Schengen area in the years to come,’ he
revealed.
Turkey’s Presence in the Western Balkans
Both Turkey and Russia have a special interest in the Western Balkans.
Turkey has a special affinity with the Balkans, dating from the Ottoman
times. However, the ambassador stressed that `there is no competition
concerning EU accession. Turkey wants to play a special role in the
Balkans. Important investments have been done in the Western Balkans and
other countries, such as Romania.’
Reaffirming the country’s vision of itself as an enabler of wider growth,
the ambassador added that `Turkey’s policy in this sense is that if the
economic and social situation in these countries improves, it will serve
everyone’s interest.’
When Patience is a Virtue
Concluding the interview, Ambassador Yenel was asked how long he
anticipates that Turkey will have to wait to receive a coherent answer from
the EU, and a provisional target accession date. Moreover, in the best-case
scenario – one in which Turkey fulfils the remaining commitments with
regard to the EU aquis – it becomes important to predict what message the
EU might send to Turkey.
`Turkey is still patient and will continue to work hard to achieve the EU’s
requested benchmarks,’ stated the ambassador. `The moment when all concerns
will be addressed will be a victory for Turkey.’ Nevertheless, he concluded
that the EU’s feedback for Turkey, when that moment arrives, remains
unknown for now.