EC Statement on Mobilities to and from Turkey
Gerry O'Sullivan
Posted: 14 May, 2018
The European Commission has issued the following statement in response to requests on the official line regarding mobilities to Turkey:
“Turkey has been a full member of the Erasmus+ programme since 2014, and successfully participated in its predecessor programmes since 2007. Scholarships are available to any student or academic staff in the world (including Europe) interested in doing part of their studies or teaching practice in Turkey. The same applies to Turkish students and professors interested in being mobile outside Turkey.
We believe that Erasmus+ has the potential to carry Europe’s messages and fundamental values far beyond its borders, to open up universities to society and democratic values. We also think that it is important to create bridges and open communication channels between academic communities, and not to isolate academic circles.
Turkey’s participation in Erasmus+ allows for exchanges between Turkish and EU citizens, serves the engagement of actors promoting European values and fosters stronger links with those in Turkey who share European values and see the EU as an anchor for reforms. Therefore, measures on suspending or discouraging mobility with Turkey would be detrimental to those in Turkey who are supportive of democratisation, human rights and fundamental freedoms, and more generally of EU values.”
