Chief Negotiator Bagis, EU envoys mark Europe Day with bicycle tour

State Minister and Chief European Union talks negotiator Egemen Bagis on Sunday rode in a bicycle tour from Parliament to Ankara 's Genclik Park to mark Europe Day. Turkey , along with Europe , celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, which laid the foundation of today's European Union with his speech on May 9, 1950. As part of the celebrations, Ankara Mayor Melih Gokcek and Bagis took part in the bicycle tour. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Bagis said they rode nonstop to show that Turkey 's EU membership bid should be a nonstop process. " Turkey will continue to cycle in the EU process," Bagis said. He said everyone, including central and local authorities, academics, journalists, managers, civil society organizations, and artists, should embrace this process. In addition, a statement from Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu called Turkey 's Europeanness a "confirmed phenomenon." Hailing the EU project as a historic success based on universal values such as freedom, democracy and human rights, the statement said Europe has reached these ideals only through unity and solidarity. Stressing how Turkey will contribute to Europe with its regional and global clout, dynamic economy and young population, the statement said the goal of the membership process is full membership. " Turkey has always been important to Europe in terms of its characteristics, worldview, political institutions, democratic structure conducive to modern norms, secular state structure, free market economy and cultural values, and strategic, geographic and cultural position," the statement said. Parliament Speaker Mehmet Ali Sahin also released a statement calling full EU membership a strategic goal for Turkey . He said Turkey , with its history of connecting different civilizations and cultures and providing them with free coexistence, will help EU efforts for peace and stability.