Erdogan's in-house ideologue states that: ‘the integration of Turkey with the EU is unacceptable’

21.2.2014

Question for written answer E-002112-14
to the Commission
Rule 117
Laurence J.A.J. Stassen (NI)

Writing in a column in the pro-AKP daily ‘Yeni Safak’ (New Dawn) on 13 February 2014, Hayrettin Karaman, in-house ideologue to Prime Minister Erdogan and his ruling party, stated that pious Muslims would never want integration with the EU and that opposition to all Christian and western values was a matter of belief. Regarding freedom of religious belief for non-Muslims, he wrote that, if those concerned (non-Muslims) were contrary to the religion and morality of Islam, no concessions would be made to them in the name of democracy or human rights.

1.Is the Commission aware of these remarks by Hayrettin Karaman, the in-house ideologue of Prime Minister Erdogan and the governing AK party[1]? What view does it take of them?

2. Does the Commission agree that the utterances of Karaman, ‘the Islamic ideological mouthpiece’ of Prime Minister Erdogan, reflect reluctance on the part of Turkey to join the EU or conform to EU criteria? If not, how does the Commission interpret his remarks?

3. Does the Commission agree that his remarks reflect Turkish intolerance towards non-Muslims? If not, how does it interpret them?

4. What action is being envisaged by the Commission in response to this? Is it willing to take the matter up with Prime Minister Erdogan and inform him in no uncertain terms that there will never be room for Turkey in the EU?

• [1] http://yenisafak.com.tr/yazarlar/HayrettinKaraman/dostlugun-ve-desteklemenin-sarti/50283.

OJ C 317, 16/09/2014