Tacan Ildem, Türkiye's ambassador to the Netherlands, said Wednesday that anxieties in the Netherlands about globalization are hampering prospects for closer Türkiye-EU relations in the near term.
Speaking to the Anadolu Agency as his posting concluded, Ildem recalled that when he arrived in 2003, post-September 11 suspicion toward the Islamic world colored Dutch public opinion. He said he spent his tenure working to correct misinformation, including unfounded Dutch fears that Türkiye's EU membership would strain the bloc's budget and trigger mass migration to the Netherlands.
Ildem noted that Dutch unease with globalization leads many in the country to view EU enlargement negatively, and that some Dutch citizens treat Türkiye's accession as if it were imminent. He expressed confidence that rational thinking would ultimately guide the debate.
Despite the difficult climate facing the Türkiye community in the Netherlands, Ildem said bilateral ties between the two countries had remained on a positive and growing track throughout his time in office.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in December 2006, in its own words.