Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee Vice-Chair Miltos Kyrkos (Greece, S&D) addressed Turkish civil society and business community the representatives based in Belgium at the conference organised by TÖSED-BUSINESSTURK on 17 December 2018. The conference, which took place at the TOBB and IKV’s Brussels Representation, was moderated by IKV’s Brussels Representative Haluk Nuray.

In his introductory remarks, IKV’s Brussels Representative Haluk Nuray provided a historical account of Turkey-EU relations and evaluated the EP’s latest draft Turkey Report. Nuray warned that according to the negotiating framework document, suspension would in essence mean a termination of the accession negotiations.

In his address, MEP Miltos Kyrkos expressed his concern about the draft Turkey Report. Kyrkos underscored the need to maintain Turkey’s EU accession negotiations and stated that Turkey’s EU dream should continue. Indicating that a report recommending a formal suspension of the accession talks risked shutting the door on Turkey, Kyrkos highlighted that this was unacceptable. He said that together with the like-minded MEPs, they have submitted an amendment calling for focusing on the reform outcomes while maintaining the accession process. Kyrkos urged the Turkish civil society to call on the EP not to suspend EU accession talks and “not to kill Turkey’s EU dream”.