IKV organised a panel entitled “Re-Energizing Turkey-EU Relations after the Constitutional Referendum” at the European Parliament (EP) in Brussels on 11 May 2017. The event was realised in cooperation with EP Turkey Forum and a variety of representatives from Brussels-centred think tanks, MEPs, personnel from EU institutions and experts working on Turkey-EU relations attended the event.

The opening remarks of the panel were realised by IKV Vice Chairman Prof. Haluk Kabaalioğlu and Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) MEP Marietje Schaake. In the opening remarks, it was said that the parties should work together in enhancing mutual understanding and cooperation. Furthermore, it was reminded that Turkey-EU relations would be normalised following the election and referendum periods with new opportunities in that respect. 

During the panel, distinguished Turkish academicians shared their views from constitutional law, economic and political perspectives regarding the latest developments in Turkey-EU relations and in Turkey following the constitutional referendum.

In his presentation, Koç University Dean of Faculty of Law Prof. Bertil Emrah Oder assessed the constitutional changes which had been approved following the results of the 16 April constitutional referendum from the perspective of EU standards and issued a few recommendations regarding possible shortcomings in the harmonisation period in that respect. Indicating the critical importance of the independence of the judiciary in all cases, Prof. Oder argued the need to further enhance the capacity of personnel in the judiciary in Turkey and to strengthen cooperation with the EU in that process.

The second panellist to intervene was TEPAV Managing Director Prof. Güven Sak. In his presentation, Prof. Sak analysed the referendum results from an economic viewpoint and reminded that it is of utmost importance to apply sound policies in that respect in the upcoming period in order to keep a good economic and political balance. Reminding that Turkey had successfully passed difficult periods, Prof. Sak underscored that if this period can be managed in a successful manner, new opportunities would arise as such.

The last speaker of the panel was Istanbul Bilgi University Faculty of Political Science Lecturer and International Political Science Association (IPSA) Chairman Prof. İlter Turan. In his presentation, Prof. Turan reminded of a clear political landscape of which both the EU and Turkey have emerged from the Cold War period till today. Indicating that Turkey and the EU have forged fruitful cooperation in a variety of areas, Prof. Turan also highlighted the need to advance at a higher level in areas such as the visa liberalisation dialogue.

Following the panel, EP DG for External Policies of the Union and policy analyst for the Western Balkans and Turkey Andre de Munter stressed the importance of mutual goodwill in Turkey-EU relations and summarised the different presentations of the panel. Later, a Q&A session was realised.