Turkey will benefit from EU membership: NGOs

By Muhammet Ikbal Arslan and Muhammet Nusret Altun

ANKARA (AA) – Turkey will benefit from membership in the European Union, representatives of Turkish non-governmental organizations (NGOs) said Wednesday at an event attended by Deputy Foreign Minister Faruk Kaymakci.

Kaymakci conducted an interactive survey of representatives of NGOs during the opening ceremony for the Fifth Phase of the Civil Society Dialogue Programme and Second Phase of the Civil Society Support Programme.

According to the survey, the NGOs think Turkey is not doing its part for EU membership although being a member will benefit the country.

However, the representatives believe the EU will accept Turkey as a member if it fulfills its requirements.

Speaking at the event, Kaymakci said with the support from Turkish NGOs, talks between Turkey and the EU can begin again.

“We want to accelerate the reform process after the March 31 local elections.
It is also important that we listen to NGOs in this process. You are not the only non-governmental organizations involved with agriculture, migrants, the environment, music and health. You also have political work. We would like to benefit from these studies in the process of Turkey's EU membership,” he said.

“The EU supports NGOs not only in Turkey, but all over the world,” said Ambassador Christian Berger, head of the EU delegation to Turkey.

*Writing by Busra Nur Bilgic