Turkey is losing its 'European Turks'
One of the most significant sociological events of the last century for Turkey, perhaps the most important, can be considered the labor migration that began in the early 1960s, primarily to Europe.
12punto
News: Mustafa BOZDURGUT
The story of Turkish labor migration to Europe officially began with the signatures cast on October 30, 1961, in Bad Godesberg, near Germany's former capital, Bonn.
This number gradually reached hundreds of thousands, hitting one million in 1970. By 1974, it had exceeded 1.6 million.
Today, this figure has surpassed 6 million in Europe, and when including other countries around the world, it has reached approximately 7.5 million. This massive population includes not only those who remain Turkish citizens but also those who have acquired the citizenship of the countries where they reside.
These people who migrated from Turkey built new lives from scratch in various European countries.
Of course, over the more than 60 years that have passed, they have had to struggle for many years against anti-Turkish and exclusionary policies in Germany and other European countries.
Turkey's indifference and lack of policy have only added insult to injury regarding these difficulties. European Turks have weathered these challenges by showing solidarity among themselves and with the help of local and foreign populations who support Turks.
PROBLEMS IN GERMANY FROM THE BEGINNING
The problems in the early years of the migration, which began in October 1961... Residency permits were issued for short durations. Short-term permits were followed by permanent residency permits. Then came the 'Right of Residence.' The facilitation of the transition to German citizenship opened the door to a new era. However, this door closed in 1990.
Our newspaper, Yeni Posta, has persistently followed this issue for 30 years, from its first issue in 1992 until the 'Dual Citizenship Law' was enacted in 2024.
It must be acknowledged that throughout this process, foreigners and Turks always found the SPD, the Greens, Die Linke, and other left-wing parties and groups by their side. The right to dual citizenship would never have been realized without these parties and the groups and movements that showed solidarity.
In particular, Germany's move to enact the 'Dual Citizenship Law' in 2024 reinforced the respect and trust that Turks and foreigners have for Germany, leading them to feel like equal citizens.
THEY WILL WAIT AT THE DOOR EVEN IF YOU KICK THEM OUT
Turkey's indifference toward Turks living in Europe, its failure to consider their problems and needs, and the approach of 'Even if you kick them out, they will come back and wait at the door' have pushed European Turks into an irreversible negative process.
The older generations living abroad, both current and former, have always been forced to travel to the country by 'road'—a journey filled with hardship—due to the exorbitant price of flight tickets during vacation periods, driven by an unquenchable 'longing for the homeland' and 'homesickness'.
However, it seems difficult to give a positive answer to the question of 'how much longer' future generations will tolerate the indignities suffered on the arduous road journey.
THEY ARE BOTH UNINFORMED AND INDIFFERENT
In Turkey, you can hardly find a family that does not have a relative, acquaintance, or friend living abroad. However, travel through all 81 provinces of the country, and you will find that knowledge regarding the lives and problems of those living abroad is either superficial or almost non-existent! Most journalists, television personalities, and even politicians in Turkey belong to this ignorant group.
RECENT HOSTILITY TOWARD EUROPEAN TURKS
Recently, the massive, irregular, and uncontrolled migration toward Turkey has mobilized some insolent and ignorant individuals in the country. Certain segments have begun to show hostility toward European Turks, citing those on social media who criticize Europe and praise the desperation of the country in distress with false information.
We will address this topic specifically and make it the subject of a more detailed article.
BRAIN DRAIN
Brain drain accompanied the skilled labor migration that gained momentum in the early 1960s.
The brain drain that rose in our country in the 1980s has accelerated once again today. The most sought-after professionals in the recent brain drain have been molecular biologists, geneticists, engineers, and doctors.
In a report on the subject, DW Türkçe (Deutsche Welle – Germany's international broadcaster) included the following TÜİK (Turkish Statistical Institute) data:
"Brain drain from Turkey to Germany has accelerated.
TÜİK has released its 2024 brain drain statistics. The data shows that while brain drain to the U.S. has slowed over the past four years, Germany's popularity among university graduates has increased.
...According to this, the brain drain rate for higher education graduates in 2024 remained unchanged from the previous year at 2 percent. The brain drain rate was 1.6 percent for women and 2.4 percent for men.
While the brain drain rate among public university graduates was 1.7 percent, the rate of those moving abroad for work was higher among foundation university graduates. According to TÜİK, 4.3 percent of foundation university graduates went to other countries last year. The largest group among these individuals consisted of those who received their education on full scholarships.
Those participating in the brain drain from Turkey were most frequently from the field of information and communication technologies, at 6.7 percent. This was followed by engineering, manufacturing, and construction at 4.4 percent. The undergraduate program with the highest brain drain rate was molecular biology and genetics, at 15 percent.
October 24, 2025."
WE ARE RECEIVING SHEPHERDS AND GIVING AWAY GENETICISTS
It must be stated from the outset: embracing those fleeing war and the oppressive regimes of their countries is certainly both a possibility and a necessity of our century. However, no country in the world can bear this entire burden alone.
In recent years, irregular migration toward Turkey continues to be a
headache for the country. The influx of uneducated, illegal masses negatively affects health, housing, business life, and social balances. In addition to the economic and political reasons triggering brain drain from Turkey to abroad, this can also be seen as a significant factor.
Isn't it obvious that taking in shepherds while giving away geneticists, doctors, and engineers is not a smart path? If you volunteer to take on this burden alone, the clever European will say, 'After you!'
As a result of all these reasons, a significant portion of educated people in Turkey have begun to seek their future in Europe and the USA.
IT SHOULD NOT CONTINUE THIS WAY
This observation of mine seems likely to remain an important agenda item for a long time in the coming years. The trust and interest in Turkey among Turks living in Europe, especially women and young people, are decreasing day by day. General concerns felt in Turkey—violence against women, high costs of living, instability, and insecurity regarding lifestyle—are strengthening the tendency among European Turks to 'not even go for a vacation'.
People have started to spend their vacations in other countries in Europe and the world.
If this process continues in this manner, Türkiye should forget about European Turkish youth and women, not just in the distant future, but even in the near future...