Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Şimşek said on Friday that the European Union is not collapsing and that on the contrary, it is a success story where 510 million people live in peace and prosperity.
In response to a columnist from the pro-government Yeni Şafak daily who criticized the European Parliament for its vote to suspend talks with Turkey for its accession to the EU, Şimşek wrote in his Twitter account that “ensuring peace and prosperity after millions of people died and cities were destroyed in Europe in World War I and II is an achievement.”
After his Tweets praising the EU went viral on Twitter and drew criticism from pro-government users, Şimşek said he tried to draw attention to the EU’s success in bringing 28 countries together in peace and prosperity.
However, he added that the rising Islamophobia and racism in the EU is a threat to its future and can only be eliminated by allowing Turkey to join to the group.
“I only evaluated the current situation. It doesn’t mean that I affirm the EU’s attitude, approach and policies towards our country,” he said.