Page 44 - bneMag Oct23

44 I Southeast Europe bne October 2023
rewards, preparedness is essential, Michel said.
This preparation entails ensuring the judiciary functions autonomously, combating corruption and organised crime. It also involves economic readiness, particularly through the adoption of the EU acquis. Equally important is alignment in foreign policy, a facet more critical in today's context than ever before, he stated.
Michel also emphasised the need for the EU to ready itself for enlargement.
"I fully agree with [French] President [Emmanuel] Macron: not reforming on
our side before the next enlargement would be a fundamental mistake. Let’s be honest – we have sometimes used the lack of progress of future member states to avoid facing our own preparedness. We must now take a serious look at the EU's capacity to absorb new members," he said.
Regarding tensions in Serbia and Kosovo, Macron said at the Bled forum that Belgrade and Pristina are expected to actively implement the Franco-German proposal. He cautioned that failing to do so might lead to a reconsideration of the EU's visa policy.
He further emphasised the need for a distinct and resolute commitment
to maintaining peace in the region, particularly concerning the forthcoming municipal elections in the northern part of Kosovo and the renewed involvement of Serbs in local institutions.
In a gesture of solidarity, Michel also assured Slovenia of the EU's unwavering support in its endeavours to reconstruct the nation following the devastating floods in early August.
As he toured the affected areas in the Kamnik municipality north of Ljubljana alongside Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob, he reinforced the EU's dedication to standing by its member states in times of crisis.
Is this man the successor to Erdogan? bne IntelliNews
Fuelling speculation that he is being lined up to succeed Turkish leader of two decades Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Selcuk Bayraktar, chairman of Turkish combat drone maker Baykar and a son-in-law of Erdogan, has said he may enter politics if circumstances dictate, according to the Patronlar Dunyasi business news website.
Bayraktar was reported as saying that he has never dreamt of being in politics or becoming president, but was not totally against the idea.
The 43-year-old – increasingly in the spotlight in recent years, partly thanks
to the success of Baykar’s Bayraktar TB2 military drones in various conflicts – also reportedly stated that he was determined to develop Turkey’s national technology and was prepared to do whatever is necessary to achieve that goal.
“If this goal requires me to enter politics, I won’t hesitate,” said Bayraktar, also chief technology officer at Baykar, when asked if he has any plans to enter politics in the future.
Bayraktar along with Turkish naval
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commanders were in August invited aboard the visiting USS Gerald R. Ford, the US Navy’s largest aircraft carrier,
at the invitation of US Ambassador to Ankara Jeff Flake, while Flake visited the Teknofest Aerospace and Technology Festival in Ankara last week where
he met with Selcuk Bayraktar and his brother Haluk, Baykar’s CEO.
Erdogan, 69, was re-elected president at the end of May for a term of office that he has said will be his last. That tenure will conclude in 2028.
Economist Timothy Ash of BlueBay Asset
Management wrote on social media platform X that a photo posted by the US ambassador of himself with Selcuk Bayraktar showed that the president’s son- in-law is seen as the future in many ways.
“I think there has been a changing of respective powers of advisers around Erdogan,” Ash previously wrote in a note to investors in mid-August. “The rational/technocratic Bayraktars [...] are increasingly taking a bigger role, more trusted by Erdogan and he is listening.
I think they are telling truth to power... and that’s behind the policy 180 [on the economy] and key appointments.”
Selcuk Bayraktar: Didn't say no. / President.az, cc-by-sa 4.0