Dervis: Turkey should take part in EU, but stay outside Euro Zone

Kemal Dervis, the vice president of the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC and former State Minister of Turkey, said that Turkey should become part of the single European market, but not the Schengen zone. During his speech at the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research's (SETA) Young Scholars on Turkey Conference, Dervis indicated that Turkey's involvement in the Euro zone was neither to the benefit of Turkey nor to the Euro zone. "I think it is feasible to seek a position similar to that of Britain in which Turkey will still be a full member of the Union but won't have to be completely integrated, involved in the Euro zone." he added. Dervis said that being a part of Schengen would prevent Turkey from freely interacting with Middle Eastern countries as such countries as Egypt and Jordon won't be among the visa-free countries any longer. "Britain is not included in Schengen, but British people can freely travel and work across Europe. The same model can be applicable to Turkey and will definitely be more feasible for both parts" he added. Stating that Turkey should keep the balance between the Middle East countries and Europe, Dervis concluded the negotiations with the EU should be accelerated once again.