EU needs fairer system: Turkish deputy premier

SAARISELKA - Anatolia News Agency

The European Union must preserve its solidarity and come up with a fairer system as its economic problems are only temporary, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan said at an informal meeting of EU leaders.

“What makes the EU significant for us [Turkey] are the values and ideas it defends. I think the economic problems are temporary,” Babacan told reporters on his way to the venue of the meeting, a mountain chalet in the Finnish ski resort town of Saariselka.

He said the important issue was to preserve solidarity and come up with a fairer system for countries, particularly the ones using the single currency, to be able to act in the same framework regarding fiscal issues or banking schemes. 

“Forming a common fiscal framework and banking authority is crucial, and now these things are being done,” he said.

Asked about whether Turkey had lost its appetite for EU membership, Babacan said Turkey had been “too patient,” noting the country applied for membership first in 1959.

The Greek Cypriot banking crisis is likely to dominate the talks at the meeting as the most pressing issue.