EU, Turkey must meet challenges together, EU Minister Çelik says

To overcome the problems destabilizing Europe, including terrorism, far-right populism, Brexit and the migrant crisis, the European Union must join forces with Turkey, the country's EU minister said on Wednesday.

Ömer Çelik was in Madrid taking part in a discussion on Europe's future.

He told an audience of diplomats, intellectuals and politicians that "threats to the EU are growing" and said its relationship with Turkey was particularly important. "And we have to remember that the values that the EU represents are universal, and we are worried about them being affected."

Yet, after being on the waiting list to join Europe since 1999, he said Turkey was a "patient candidate," adding that while he understands these things take time, Turkey's case has become political and tainted by xenophobia and Islamophobia from increasingly popular far-right parties in Europe.

"This is not just a Turkish problem; populists feed off of the negativity around Turkey," said Çelik.

In the presentation, hosted by Spanish think-tank El Cano, Çelik said Turkey would also be more capable of addressing its own challenges, which clearly affect Europe as well, if it were part of the EU.

When asked about freedom of speech and freedom of the press in Turkey, he explained the complex situation in Turkey but added that it was up for debate.

"We are open to criticism, we are candidates of the EU, so it's something we have to address and can't ignore… in terms of freedom of the press, if Europe opens chapters 23 and 24 then we'll talk," he said, referring to two key chapters that push candidate countries to further align its laws, freedoms, and justice systems with EU norms.

Çelik also told the audience Spain has been an important partner in Turkey's EU candidacy and is the country most capable of understanding Turkey, due to similar histories, challenges and shared Mediterranean culture.

He will be in Spain for two days and will meet Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis and representatives of the Spanish business world.

"We can't forget that we are in the same boat in the journey of Europe, which is why we have to address problems together," Çelik said.