Europe without Turkiye 'incomplete, vulnerable in managing crises': Erdogan

President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that a European architecture that did not include Turkiye in its rightful place would "remain incomplete and vulnerable in managing crises."

In a message marking Europe Day, Erdogan said the Schuman Declaration, which laid the foundations of European integration, was both a symbol of the EU and a reflection of “the commitment to build a shared future based on peace, cooperation and mutual respect on our continent," according to Türkiye’s Communications Directorate on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal.

He noted that the EU’s founding principles, established 76 years ago, were now being tested by multiple global crises, including wars, political instability, and economic challenges.

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Erdogan further said the wars, political crises, and economic challenges with global repercussions had made it compulsory for the EU to pursue more inclusive and unifying policies, adding that Turkiye remained an “essential and indispensable” part of this process as a candidate country.

He also emphasised that Türkiye was committed to advancing its relations with the EU on a “win-win basis” based on mutual obligations and a full membership perspective, adding that Ankara expected the bloc to show the same sincere will.

“As we have previously stated, the European Union’s need for Türkiye exceeds Türkiye’s need for the bloc, and this need is expected to grow even further in the future,” he said.

He said he hopes Europe Day would bring peace, prosperity, and solidarity across the region, and extended his best wishes to European peoples and Turkish citizens.