Günter Verheugen Discusses Foreign Policy at Bilkent

Former Vice-President of the European Commission for Enterprise and Industry Günter Verheugen visited Bilkent on Wednesday, November 16 and met with Bilkent students to give a seminar titled "Turkish Foreign Policy and the European Union in the Aftermath of the Arab Spring."

Born in 1944, Günter Verheugen is a German politician who studied history, sociology and politics in Cologne and Bonn. After his retirement as member of the European Commission he joined the academic community and is now a professor at the European University Viadrina in Frankfurt.

In his talk Mr. Verheugen discussed topics such as the relationships between Turkey and the Arab world, between the EU and the Arab world, and between Turkey and the EU, as well as the EU's neighborhood policy.

He began his talk by stating, "The issue of the Arab Spring is a very complex geopolitical question. It raises a lot of questions. These countries are our neighbors - we've had dealings with them for centuries. They are important for us -- we need them, and they need us. It is still unknown and much too early to make predictions as to where this Arab Spring will lead us. We should cooperate very closely to find a common strategy."

Mr. Verheugen said that, based on his long experience of having worked with many countries in the process of transformation, "the best way to achieve stability is to build a society that is based on shared values, on a common understanding of the common interest and the common wealth based on a strong consensus. These values are democracy, human rights and protection of minorities."

"I think the present situation in the relationship between Turkey and the EU is frustrating for both sides but certainly more frustrating on the side of Turkey. It is a very strong feeling that you are experiencing a déjà vu, promises… promises and promises and those promises are finally not kept," said Mr. Verheugen and continued: "This is despite of all your efforts, despite the remarkable progress you have made. I can tell you that I have been a frequent visitor to your country since 1998. The Turkey that I see today is completely different from 1998. It is a different country. Even with all the changes in the transforming countries in eastern and central Europe, I would say that you have achieved more.

Underlining his conviction regarding Turkey's importance vis-à-vis Europe, Mr. Verheugen remarked that he "claims the copyright" for this sentence: "Europe needs Turkey more than Turkey needs Europe."

He proceeded to outline his vision for the future: "We can already see, more or less, the shape of the world of tomorrow. We see global changes coming. We see coming to an end the world in which there was one dominating superpower. It is obvious that regional cooperation will not be enough to solve the problems of mankind. We need global cooperation."

Again stressing Turkey's key role, Mr. Verheugen said, "If we want to be a global player, we need to have Turkey as a member of the EU."

Turning from politics to economics, he painted a bright picture of the country's prospects: "Turkey is a booming economy that will belong to the ten leading economies of the world very soon. And then there is the potential of Turkey, given the democratic situation of the country, its location and resources and political environment. The prospect is for Turkey to have a very long, strong period of economic growth. And of this prospect, it is very proud.

Mr. Verheugen concluded with his vision of how the "Arab spring" could have a positive impact on the relationship between the EU and Turkey. "The political portrait that I have in my mind would be a joint endeavor of the EU and Turkey, a joint strategy of how to deal with the new developments in the Arab world and the Middle East and north Africa. If we do that, I think it would automatically create the political momentum that we need in order to overcome the present very frustrating state of affairs."