Would Davutoğlu push the EU back?

I met Davutoğlu during his frequently organized briefings in recent years. When he entered the world we already share, he would think more like an "academic member," and evaluate in a more concrete way and filter things through a scientist’s sieve.

We would leave his briefings that used to go on for hours without something concrete in hand.

Davutoğlu over the years quickly became a person who adjusted to our world. He took care to stay behind the curtains. He used to stay behind and not brag about his successes.

After a while he started to take action and over the years became a personality trusted by the prime minister. I can’t say I know Davutoğlu well but I am curious about his ideas especially regarding the EU.

Davutoğlu does not oppose the EU. To tell the truth, he is smart enough not to believe in such a dogmatic approach. He knows that a Turkey that strengthened its relations with the EU would be more effective in Islamic countries and countries in the region. He realizes that a Turkey outside the EU would not be attractive no matter how hard it would try.

So should full membership be Davutoğlu’s priority?

I don’t know the answer. This question was not asked in any of the meetings I went to. If I can find an obvious answer some day, I’ll share it with you. There is a great chance he’ll say, "If the prime minister decides that way it will be our priority," but what I’m really curious about is what is going on in Davutoğlu’s mind. What do you think?

Before local elections we listened to the same words over and over for a year. It was stressed that these elections were extremely important and no steps were to be taken that could lead to a loss of votes. The EU was for the AKP a second priority. First of all, the Justice and Development Party, or AKP needed to increase its votes.

The prime minister’s visit to Brussels and his speeches during that visit, Egemen Bağış’s appointment as chief negotiator and the approval of the national program created the impression that after local elections Turkey would quickly start a reform period.

In the seat of newly appointed Bağış a storm broke lose.

The EU commission, the member country delegation in Brussels and the European Parliament finally found a determined "Turkish negotiator" who only dealt with the EU. In a recent chat with monthly Kriter, Bağış announced the road map for future undertakings. Right after that it was said, "Wait, a change of Cabinet will take place."

But there is still no visible action in sight. I wonder if we are impatient.I don’t think so.

If negotiations have slowed down or even come to a halt, it is Ankara’s fault, or better to say the prime minister’s fault.

The to-do list is very long. But Ankara still does not move. The reason is that the prime minister does not give a signal or doesn’t want to do so. No matter how much Bağış pushes, it won’t lead anywhere without the prime minister pushing the button.

But one point we need to pay attention to is that if we don’t hurry, then two subjects to be opened in July won’t be ready.

If looked upon from the outside, it seems as is Turkey moves slowly and is in no hurry.

Let’s not be unfair, the government has a lot to do. Many things are on its agenda but it still needs to arrange its priorities that conform to promises it made upfront.

That is why I want to ask:

Come on nowÉ

Local elections are over. Why are you still not taking any action?

Revival of process necessary

Bağış said he would suggest a new operating plan for Parliament and create new formulas to ease the release of successive amendments. There is no such activity in Parliament. If the government wants to create a status of "continuous full membership candidate" and continue like this for 5-10 more years, then that’s fine. But if it aims at obtaining results and reviving the full membership process, it must take action.

Believe me, if Turkey continues at this pace, other forces in the EU will take advantage and create other formulations instead of full membership. And be assured that some EU countries that oppose privileged membership formulas will support new formulas by saying, "Turkey cannot handle this anyway."

Be informed..