""Deepening and widening: the false dichotomy- Mr Olli Rehn-Public lecture at the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP)
....As regards Turkey, the 3rd of October 2005 was definitely a turning point in the history of EU-Turkey relations – and a key decision for the whole continent. The aim of launching launching accession negotiations is to achieve a key strategic assumption: the European Union needs, for its own interest, a stable, democratic, stable and prosperous Turkey, which respects human rights and the rule of law, is able to implement our policies, meet our standards and which remains a strong and reliable ally in today’s world.
For those who still question the strategic value of such a step, I simply invite them to look at the news: on issues as different as the energy crisis, Iran, Iraq or the cartoons crisis, Turkey appears as a key player which we absolutely need on our side or as a bridge and a moderator between civilisations.
Clearly, we all know, and the Turks know it even better, that it will be a long and winding road before accession can take place. At the technical level, the negotiation process is proceeding relatively well, and I’m confident that the first chapter (on Science and Research) will be opened soon."
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