EU minister calls for common policy against ‘rising racism’ in Europe

ANKARA

AA photo

A common policy should be developed against increasing racism in Europe, immigrant hostility, Islamophobic and anti-Semitic politics, Turkey’s EU Minister Ömer Çelik said March 6 on his official Twitter account. 

He said a common policy should also be developed for the search of missing immigrant children in Germany and in many European cities, noting that a similar incident was seen recently in Paris.

He stressed that some European politicians were displaying anti-Turkey sentiments. 

“Some European politicians who oppose Turkey say they should produce ‘common policy’ in Europe against Turkey,” he said in a tweet.  

“A common policy should be developed against municipalities that show unruly attitudes towards immigrants,” he added. 

“Democrats of the entire world should discuss these issues in order to protect main issues,” he said.  

Çelik stressed that common policies should be implemented against racists and governments that have isolated migrants fleeing oppression. 

“A common policy should be developed towards those who remain silent towards violations of democracy and human rights in Europe. A common policy should be developed on the role of governments and institutions in raising racism in Europe,” he said.

Diplomatic tensions have been rising in recent days amid Turkish plans to have ministers to address rallies in Germany and the Netherlands in support of an upcoming constitutional referendum that would give President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan extended powers.

Some European Union officials earlier stated that there may be lessons to be drawn from the spat between Turkey and Germany on campaigning by officials from outside the 28-nation bloc.

Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak said the controversy highlights the lack of European rules and standards on allowing rallies by politicians from non-member countries.

“It’s about time to start discussing it. I think there should be rules. I would be rather restrictive, because as we can see it has a huge damaging potential,” he said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s chief of staff, Peter Altmaier, has condemned remarks by Erdoğan accusing Germany of “Nazi practices,” days after a local authority prevented Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ from addressing a rally there.

Altmaier on March 6 called Erdoğan’s remarks “absolutely unacceptable.” He told German public Television ARD that “Germany cannot be outmatched regarding the rule of law, tolerance and liberality.”

He said the government was in contact with the Turkish government and announced that “we will make sure the significance of the problems of what happened in recent days will be recognized and understood in Ankara as well.”