Özgür Özel sends 'membership' message at EU leaders' meeting: 'When we come to power'

In his speech there, Özel stated, "We have a strategy to implement the Copenhagen criteria and achieve EU membership once we come to power."

CHP leader Özgür Özel had been invited to the leaders' meeting in preparation for the European Union Council held in Brussels, Belgium. In addition to social democratic leaders, heads of state, prime ministers, and deputy prime ministers, the meeting, organized at the call of the Party of European Socialists, was also attended by European Commission President Antonio Costa, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

Özel said the following at the meeting:

"As the social democrats of Europe, we must lead in peace and lead in democracy. I attach great importance to the European Union's cooperation with Turkey here. It was wrong for the Turkish Foreign Minister not to be invited to Paris; it was very correct for him to be invited to London. The fact that a meeting will be held with Erdoğan this evening is also important. Europe needs to be with Turkey today and pull Turkey toward itself."

"NEGOTIATIONS SHOULD BE CONDUCTED THROUGH DEMOCRACY"

"After we come to power, we have a strategy to implement the Copenhagen criteria at lightning speed and achieve European Union membership. But until that day, instead of establishing an unprincipled give-and-take bargaining relationship with Erdoğan, I want to emphasize the importance of continuing negotiations with Turkey on the basis of sensitivity to democracy and freedoms. If you negotiate through democracy, it would be an important step for both Europe and Turkey. All of Europe's expectations and demands, and all of Turkey's expectations and demands, can be resolved through a relationship of democracy and solidarity."

"I WILL DO EVERYTHING THAT FALLS TO ME"

"As the main opposition party of Turkey, as the party that has been first in the polls so far, and as the Chairman of the party that won 65 percent of the population and 80 percent of the economy in the last local elections, I promise you solutions and support together. I will do everything that falls to me regarding the steps Turkey will take on this matter."

HE HELD BILATERAL MEETINGS WITH LEADERS

Within the scope of the meeting, Özgür Özel held bilateral meetings with the heads of state, prime ministers, and social democratic leaders who attended the meeting.