IKV organised a panel on "Türkiye-EU Relations" in association with the Prague Institute of International Relations in Prague on 24 October 2022, on the occasion of the Czech Presidency of the EU. The opening speeches of the event were delivered by Director of the Prague Institute of International Relations Jakub Eberle, IKV Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu, Türkiye’s Ambassador to the Czech Republic Egemen Bağış and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Martin Košatka.

Emphasizing the strategic importance of Türkiye for the EU in their opening remarks, the speakers referred to the need for cooperation on crucial issues such as security, energy, migration and climate change. The importance of Türkiye-EU rapprochement in terms of European security was underlined, particularly in the changing geopolitical environment in the wake of Russia's assault on Ukraine. Highlighting that the ultimate goal continues to be Türkiye’s EU membership, IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu called for accelerating the process towards this goal and revitalising the positive agenda.

The first session of the panel was moderated by Prague Institute of International Relations Senior Researcher Pelin Ayan Musil, while the speakers were Head of the Political Section of European Commission Representation in the Czech Republic Eva Horelová and TEPAV EU Studies Center Director Nilgün Arısan Eralp. The speakers of the second panel session, which was moderated Researcher of the Prague Institute of International Relations Jan Daniel, were European Policy Center Senior Researcher Amanda Paul, Director of Prague Center for Middle East Relations Tomáš Kaválek and IKV Secretary General Assoc. Prof.  Çiğdem Nas.

IKV aims to contribute to the Türkiye’s EU accession process through the “EU Presidency and Türkiye’s EU Membership Process Project” carried out in the EU Member State capital assuming the EU’s rotating presidency.

Constantly emphasizing the importance of the communication strategy in Türkiye's EU accession process, IKV continues its efforts to better communicate Türkiye’s EU accession negotiations process and raise awareness among EU citizens on the subject, by expanding its Brussels-based activities and organising events which make an impact in other EU Member States. In this context, under the EU Presidencies Project, which has been implemented since 2010, meetings have been held in the EU country assuming the Presidency of the Council of the EU.