PM Erdogan: "If our membership process fails, it's the EU which will lose"

The European Union must understand that Turkey’s eventual accession into the 27-member bloc will not be a burden, but on the contrary will lighten the load on the EU's shoulders, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday, warning that the Union would suffer if Ankara’s membership bid eventually fails. Speaking at his ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AK Party) parliamentary group meeting, Erdogan criticized previous governments for a lack of progress on Turkey’s EU bid until the AK Party came to power in 2002, followed in 2004 by the EU greenlighting membership talks with Ankara. On the European Commission's recent progress report on Turkey, which he called the best report since Turkey's membership talks began, Erdogan commented, "Please understand us correctly; Turkey is coming to the EU to share the burden, not to become a burden for the EU. The EU will have the chance to become a main part of the UN-led Alliance of Civilizations co-chaired by Turkey and Spain. That’s why you should understand Turkey correctly, and if an adverse situation occurs, then Turkey will not be the losing party." He added that Turkey would continue its reforms through replacing the Maastricht criteria with the so-called "Istanbul criteria," and the Copenhagen criteria with the "Ankara criteria." Erdogan said, "We are continuing our accession process into the EU with determination despite all obstructions, all unfair policies, and all approaches that have thrown cold water on our enthusiasm."