(English) Farewell Statement of Mr. Onur Öymen, Deputy Chairman of EU Committee of the Turkish Parliament in COSAC meeting held in Budapest on 31st of May 2011

Farewell Statement of Mr. Onur Öymen, Deputy Chairman of EU Committee of the Turkish Parliament in COSAC meeting held in Budapest on 31^st of May 2011

Thank you Mr. Chairman,

We have listened, yesterday, very interesting, very important but not always promising, not always optimistic statements. Mr. Prime Minister Olmert has rightly said that Europe is loosing its competitiveness in the world and that the enlargement would contribute Europe to re-gain its competitiveness.  I cannot explain than why Europe should deprive itself of the contributions, of the potential of Turkey which is the sixteenth economic power of the world and sixth in Europe by delaying her membership process.  We have started the enlargement negotiations the same day with Croatia. We congratulate our Croatian friends because they are about to finish their membership process. Whereas Turkey was able to open only 13 chapters so far and 18 chapters have been blocked by EU Council or by some countries for various reasons. At least one country blocked 5 chapters, claiming that these chapters may lead Turkey to full membership. Do you want Turkey in your family or not? Let’s be honest. If your intention is to have Turkey, as it was decided before, as member of the European family, we would be glad to come and join you and participate  your work and contribute your competitiveness. But I must tell you that in the last year we were not able to open one single chapter. During the Belgian presidency not a single chapter has been opened. During the first five months of the Hungarian presidency we were not able to open a chapter either. I hope that this situation will change in the coming days.

I am not going to run next elections which will take place on the 12th of June. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of you for your personal friendship and personal support. I hope that you will bring our message to your governments. We believe that Turkey is the eastern wing of Europe and without Turkey, Europe cannot fly higher with one wing only.  We hope that our European friends will reconsider their policies on Turkish membership process. I am leaving COSAC  leaving my hearth with you and  with Europe. I believe that in the future we will have better times. Thank you very much.