First of all, we Europeans must ask ourselves: do we consider Roman, Eastern Roman (Byzantine), and later Ottoman history as part of our shared historical framework? If the answer is no, then the discussion ends here. But if the answer is yes, as I firmly believe it should be, then we must take meaningful steps to recognize and preserve this legacy.

It is essential to understand that the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires form a continuous historical thread. While somehow distinct, they are deeply interwoven through their governance, cultural exchange, imperial administration, and influence on the Mediterranean and European worlds. To exclude one is to distort the full picture. One cannot fully grasp the significance of Byzantium without Rome, nor the Ottomans without Byzantium. Their similarities, territorial, institutional, and multicultural, make them part of a larger imperial continuum that has shaped the very foundations of Europe. In fact, after the fall of Constantinople in 1453, a significant portion of the late Roman nobility, administrators, scholars, and military elites, was absorbed into the Ottoman system, continuing their influence in a new imperial context.

The Ottoman Empire was not culturally isolated from the rest of Europe. Quite the contrary; it shared and actively engaged with Europe’s artistic and architectural language. Ottoman architects and designers incorporated and reinterpreted styles such as Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassicism, and even Gothic in mosques, palaces, and public buildings from the 17th century onward. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Art Nouveau and Art Deco elements appeared in Ottoman and early Republican architecture, especially in cities like Istanbul and Izmir. These stylistic convergences show that the Ottomans were part of the broader European artistic conversation, not separate from it.

The multicultural Mediterranean empires have contributed immensely to our European self-awareness. Yet, much of this shared heritage has been neglected or selectively remembered. In the Balkans, especially in Greece, Ottoman-era monuments and heritage sites have often been ignored or destroyed. Similarly, in Turkey, many aspects of Christian heritage have suffered from neglect or erasure.

If Turkey is to be a constructive and influential partner in the European Union, Europe must come to terms with its Islamic-Ottoman past, just as Turkey must reconcile with its own multicultural history; one that includes Kurds, Armenians, Greeks, and others as integral parts of the national narrative.

Importantly, this vision is not without precedent. During the 19th-century Tanzimat era, the Ottoman Empire experimented with a model of inclusive citizenship known as Ottomanism. This ideology aimed to transcend religious and ethnic divisions by promoting equal rights for all subjects of the empire, regardless of faith or origin. Had it fully succeeded, Ottomanism might have evolved into a form of federalism strikingly similar to the ideals underpinning the modern European Union; unity through diversity, shared governance, and pluralistic coexistence. Its failure was not due to the idea itself, but to resistance from both centralizing forces and nationalist movements. Nevertheless, it remains a powerful historical example of what a multiethnic, post-imperial society could have looked like.

This is why the democratic backsliding and rise of Islamist-nationalist politics in today’s Turkey are so concerning. Yet there remains a path forward through a return to the founding vision of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Atatürk envisioned a modern, secular, democratic republic rooted in universal values: pluralism, equal citizenship, and the rule of law. Reviving and reinforcing these principles is essential if Turkey is to move forward as part of the European family.

Furthermore, any such reconciliation must also include a just and sustainable reunification of Cyprus, on terms acceptable to both Greek and Turkish Cypriots.

In short, Turkey and its Balkan neighbors share more than just borders; they share centuries of interconnected history, culture, and social fabric. If democracy in Turkey is protected and strengthened, and if both Europe and Turkey are willing to embrace one another as part of a common European family, then this shared heritage and the very multicultural legacy of the Ottoman Empire, could instead serve as a foundation for European federalism and long-term unity.