IKV Secretary General Assoc. Prof. Çiğdem Nas delivered a speech on 19 October 2017 at the 8^th Annual Seminar of Paris Bosphorus Institute (Institut du Bosphore). The seminar’s main theme was "Turkey-France-the EU: Updating Settings?". Effects of globalisation, future of the European integration and Turkey-EU relations were the priority issues touched upon at the seminar. During her speech at the panel on Turkey-France-EU relations, IKV Secretary General Assoc. Prof. Çiğdem Nas evaluated the future of Turkey-EU relations and the role of France in this relations with the country’s newly elected President Emmanuel Macron, who is pointed as one of the names to build the future of the European integration in the light of current debates.

After having mentioned the importance of Turkey-France relations, Assoc. Prof. Nas indicated that the countries’ bilateral relations are based on a historical background and strong economic, social and cultural ties. Moreover, she underlined France’s special role in normalising Turkey-EU relations.

In addition to this, Assoc. Prof. Nas not only underlined the current fluctuations in the world but also remarked the foresights of shifting economic balances from Europe to emerging economies. Turkey and the EU have become more significant for each other in such an environment, she added. Assoc. Prof. Nas underlined the EU’s need to be restructed and integrated at intellectual level; therefore, she highlighted the importance the EU’s two strong states, France and Germany’s enhanced cooperation. Within this context Assoc. Prof. Nas mentioned that while Germany plays a pioneering role in economy, France has profound role in terms of political perspective for the EU’s reshaping and integration.

Lastly, after having attracted notice to the recent inconveniences regarding Turkey-EU accession negotiations, Assoc. Prof. Nas emphasized that civil society has an intermediary and contributing role in improving relations.