Yalta, Sept 19 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The European Union's double standards on European integration of Turkey and Ukraine have affected the popularity of the European choice in these countries, Turkey's Minister for the EU Affairs Egemen Bagis has said.
"We need to find an answer to the question: Who has lost Turkey and Ukraine?" he said at the 8th Yalta Annual Meeting of YES on Saturday.
The minister said that the visa issue is an example of such double standards.
"Why can Brazilians enter [the EU] without visas, and the Ukrainians and Turks cannot? The double standards should be put an end to," Bagis said.
According to him, due to the position of the EU, a mere 8% of the population in Turkey believes that the EU is the country’s choice, while 30% are already against it, therefore, it becomes increasingly difficult for the government to pursue the European integration policy.
"They should provide the European prospect to Ukraine. Turkey and Ukraine are the countries which can become a solution to many problems in Europe," Bagis said.
