ABTTF President: ‘Western Thrace which has been ignored for years regarding economic development should be provided the necessary economic assistance by declaring it a priority region as a result of the economic results created by the pandemic’.
After four days of negotiations at the EU Leaders Summit in Brussels, the European Union capital, leaders finally agreed on a bailout programme called the ‘Coronavirus Recovery Fund’, which was created to combat the economic losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
EU leaders which met for the first-time months after as a result of the pandemic discussed the 750-billion-euro assistance package of the European Commission. As a result of four days of negotiations which continued because of the lack of compromise between the leaders at the summit which was organised under the leadership of Germany which is holding the EU Presidency, an assistance fund which totals 750 billion euros and includes 390 billion grants and 360 billion which would be distributed among Member States in form of credits has been approved. In addition, the historic summit adopted a seven-year budget of 1 074 billion euros for the period 2021-2027.
Speaking to the press at the end of the summit, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Greece would receive a package of more than 70 billion euros as part of the fight against the economic consequences of its pandemic. Mitsotakis also promised that the fund given to Greece would be used responsibly and prudently for the efficient reconstruction of the country.
Halit Habip Oğlu, President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF), said, “After 91 hours of negotiations, it is positive that EU countries finally reach consensus on the coronavirus recovery fund. As Charles Michel, President of the European Council, said, EU countries have reaffirmed their belief in a common future by showing collective responsibility. Our country Greece will receive more than 70 billion euros in aid under the Coronavirus Recovery Fund. I do hope that while this package is utilised, the fact that Western Thrace has been one of the regions most affected by the coronavirus and that in this region lives the Turkish community in Western Thrace will not be forgotten. Indeed, because of the Turkish community living in this region, our country has ignored for years our region regarding economic development. Western Thrace should now be provided the necessary economic assistance by declaring it a priority region as a result of the economic results created by the pandemic. Otherwise, institutional and systematic discrimination against Western Thrace Turks will be repeated”.
