Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Europe would remain vulnerable without Turkiye’s full inclusion in regional structures. He warned that growing global crises require more inclusive European cooperation and stronger partnerships. Erdogan’s remarks highlighted Ankara’s continuing push for closer European Union ties and full membership prospects.
In a message marking Europe Day, Erdogan said the Schuman Declaration represented peace, cooperation, and mutual respect across Europe. He noted that the declaration laid the foundations for European integration decades ago. However, he said the European Union’s founding principles now faced serious pressure from global instability. Erdogan pointed to wars, political tensions, and economic uncertainty affecting several regions worldwide.
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The Turkish leader argued that current global challenges made broader and more unifying EU policies increasingly necessary. He stressed that Turkiye remained an “essential and indispensable” partner for Europe during ongoing geopolitical and economic crises. According to Erdogan, excluding Turkiye from Europe’s future security and political framework would weaken the continent’s ability to manage conflicts effectively.
Erdogan also reaffirmed Ankara’s commitment to improving relations with the European Union through mutual cooperation and shared interests. He said Turkiye continued pursuing stronger ties based on fairness, mutual obligations, and a full membership perspective. Furthermore, he urged the European Union to demonstrate the same political will toward strengthening bilateral relations.
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The Turkish president added that Europe’s need for Turkiye exceeded Ankara’s need for the bloc and would continue growing. He expressed hope that Europe Day would promote peace, prosperity, and solidarity across the continent. Erdogan also extended good wishes to European citizens and Turkish communities during the commemorative occasion.