On 26 November 2020, IKV Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu issued a statement on the occasion of the 55^th anniversary of the establishment of IKV. Indicating that IKV’s establishment two years after the signature of the Ankara Agreement demonstrated the importance attributed to relations with Europe by the Turkish business community, IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu made the following statement:

"Today is an important day for IKV and Turkey's EU journey. 55 years ago, Turkey's visionary business people founded IKV as a research organisation and a civil society organization with the aim to steer relations with the then European Economic Community. On this occasion, we commemorate the then Presidents of Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ICI) and Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ICC); Fazıl Zobu and Behçet Osmanağaoğlu. We would like to extend our gratitude to our Founders ICI and ICC and to all our Trustees and Supporters in particular the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB).

Since then, IKV has always felt the support of the Turkish business community and has made significant contributions to the process. IKV has been Turkey’s door opening to the EU during the negotiations on the Additional Protocol, the reinstatement of relations in the aftermath of the 1980 coup, the EC membership application, the decision establishing the Customs Union, declaration of Turkey’s EU candidacy and the launch of accession negotiations. IKV has contributed to the relations in the way of research, publications, seminars and projects. Increasing Turkey’s awareness of the EU and EU’s awareness of Turkey has been among IKV’s priorities. Today, IKV continues its work with the same determination and dedication. IKV has been focused on the issue regardless of the ebbs and downs in the relations and without being affected by conjectural shifts. We have always said the following: ‘When relations with the EU are good, everyone turns pro-EU. The main thing is to take ownership of the process when the relations are not going well and to produce ideas and make efforts for restoring them.’ We are happy and honoured to be able to do this.

Today, we are watching closely the revitalisation of the accession process, the modernisation of the Customs Union, visa liberalisation and cooperation on refugees along with EU’s priorities in the new era such as the European Green Deal, and we are carrying our mission of informing and alerting the public about their effects on Turkey. We believe in a Turkey which is European and a Europe which is Turkish, and we are working towards this goal.”