No: 174, 28 May 2014

We are concerned with the increase in seats held by political parties that are xenophobic, anti-immigration, and critical of the EU project and that adopt an extremist discourse, in the European Parliament (EP) elections organized on 22-25 May 2014. It has been witnessed that xenophobic, anti-immigration, extremist discourse questioning the EU project has been gaining strength across Europe in recent years. We have drawn attention to this threat at every opportunity and at every level.

We expect that in EU countries where the impacts of the economic crisis still continue the reactionary votes of the electorate will be interpreted accurately by the EU bodies. We also expect that the new composition of the Parliament will duly evaluate the results and adopt necessary preventive policies accordingly. It is important that, taking into account this reactionary rise and global developments, the new leadership of the EU to be emerged in the post-election period, will pursue policies to enable the EU to become again an effective and credible player in political and economic spheres. This is necessary both for the future of the European project and Turkey-EU relations.

On the other hand, we welcome that the parliamentarians of Turkish origin will also take part in the newly formed European Parliament, who contribute to the political life of the EU countries that they are living in and serve at the same time as bridges of friendship between Turkey and the countries that they are citizens of.