Erdogan claims EU's growing dependence on Turkey

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered a message on the occasion of Europe Day on May 9, in which he emphasized that the European Union needs Turkey more than Turkey needs the EU. He noted that this dependence will only increase in the future, especially in the context of global crises and instability.

In his address, Erdogan recalled the significance of the Schuman Declaration, which marked the beginning of European integration, and stated that modern challenges require a more inclusive and unifying policy in Europe. According to him, wars, political and economic crises strengthen the need to bolster cooperation on the continent.

The Turkish President emphasized that Turkey, as a candidate country, remains an important and indispensable element of the European architecture. He stated that the EU without Turkey's participation would be incomplete and less resilient to crises, particularly in the areas of governance and security.

Erdogan also reaffirmed Ankara's commitment to developing relations with the European Union based on mutual benefit and the prospect of full membership. He expressed hope that Brussels would show similar political will and congratulated the European peoples on Europe Day.