On 19 February 2019, IKV organised a dialogue meeting entitled “Global Trends and Changing Parameters of Turkey-EU Relations” at the European Parliament in association with the EP Turkey Forum. During the meeting academics, civil society representatives and MEPs held a detailed discussion on the state of play in Turkey-EU relations and the way forward. The dialogue meeting taking place a day before Foreign Affairs Committee’s (AFET) vote on the draft Report on Turkey provided an opportunity for a sincere exchange of views with Rapporteur Piri and express the Turkish side’s reservations about the report.

The dialogue meeting, which was hosted by the EP Rapporteur on Turkey Kati Piri (S&D, Netherlands), EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee Vice Chair Miltiadis Kyrkos (S&D, Greece), Nedzhmi Ali (ALDE, Bulgaria) and Ilhan Kyuchyuk (ALDE, Bulgaria), was also attended by MEPs Ismail Ertug (S&D, Germany), Geoffrey Van Orden (ECR, UK) and Anneli Jäätteenmäki (ALDE, Finland).  DG NEAR’s Head of Turkey Unit Bernard Brunet, Head of the Turkey Division at the EEAS, Thomas Frellesen as well as Turkey experts based in Brussels also participated in the event.

IKV Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu delivered the opening speech at the dialogue meeting. Referring to the weakening of the transatlantic bond, increasing tension between the US and China, Russia’s assertiveness as well as the rise of populism and erosion of liberal values, IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu indicated that such trends also had a negative impact on Turkey's EU membership process. IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu added that with the 29 March Brexit date and EP elections fast approaching, the EU stands at a critical juncture. Expressing his hope that the EU would be able to emerge successfully out of these process and reform its internal structure, Zeytinoğlu reminded that the EP will be voting on its last Turkey Report in March.

Referring to the call for the formal suspension of Turkey's accession which was included in the draft report, IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu warned that such a move would be extremely counterproductive and risks distancing Turkey further from the EU. IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu emphasized that despite the challenges lying ahead, Turkey’s accession to the EU remains as the only framework for steering Turkey-EU relations. He added that the best message that the EU could give to extremists, Eurosceptics and populists everywhere is to work harder for Turkey’s integration to the EU.

Indicating that closer relations between Turkey and the EU are a must for Europe’s security and prosperity, IKV Chairman pointed out that numerous issues ranging from migration management and the fight against terrorism to trade and investment could be more effectively dealt with in a functioning accession framework whereas the absence of the membership goal would reduce cooperation to the mere essentials in which case a stalemate would be unavoidable.

Highlighting that a strong commitment to Turkey’s EU membership is vitally important to trigger liberal reforms, IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu underscored that Turkey’s citizens and civil society would be more vocal in their demand for democratic reforms provided that they are assured Turkey could become a member upon its fulfilment of the Copenhagen criteria. IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu pointed out that political barriers such as vetoes in relation to the Cyprus question, double standards and prejudices against Turkey damage the credibility of the EU and make those who support EU membership in Turkey become silent.

Referring to the results of IKV’s EU perceptions public opinion survey conducted in 2017, IKV Chairman stated that support for Turkey’s EU membership stands at 78.9 percent with only 30 percent believing that EU membership is actually going to take place in the near future. IKV Chairman underscored that the EP could play an important role in showing its solidarity with the Turkish people by opening the EU’s gates rather than closing them.