IKV organised a webinar entitled "The Future of Europe and Turkey" with the participation of Turkey’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director for EU Affairs Ambassador Faruk Kaymakcı on 19 January 2021.

Delivering the first opening speech of the webinar, which was moderated by IKV Deputy Secretary General M. Gökhan Kilit, IKV Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu pointed out to digitalisation, the European Green Deal, social justice, protection of EU values, and strengthening of common foreign policy as critical agenda items to be discussed at the upcoming Conference on the Future of Europe.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director for EU Affairs Ambassador Faruk Kaymakcı  started his opening speech by emphasizing that Turkey would continue to be part of Europe, as it was today. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Kaymakcı continued his remarks by discussing the challenges facing the EU, the debate concerning its future as well as Turkey’s contribution to the European project and the current developments in Turkey-EU relations.

In the panel session, distinguished academics and experts shared their views on different dimensions of the future of Europe. Prof. Mustafa Aydın from Kadir Has University referred to the intra-institutional debate on who would lead the Conference on the Future of Europe. Highlighting the necessity for Turkey participate in the Conference on the Future of Europe, TEPAV EU Studies Center Director Nilgün Arısan Eralp criticised the EU’s new migration and asylum pact and stressed the importance of abiding by humanitarian values in dealing with migration. Prof. Sanem Baykal from TOBB University of Economics and Technology stated that the most recent attempt for reforming the EU might not necessarily result in a treaty revision and stressed the existence of diverse views on the future direction of Europe. IKV Secretary General Assoc. Prof. Çiğdem stressed the importance of the Digital Agenda and the European Green Deal in securing the EU’s place as a norm setter in the new global order. IKV Secretary General Nas, indicated that the process should be closely followed by Turkey and highlighted ensuring civil society’s participation in the process.