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7 Mayıs 2024

IKV SECRETARY GENERAL NAS PARTICIPATED IN THE EUROPE DAY EVENT ORGANIZED BY THE EU DELEGATION AND İBB

IKV Secretary General Assoc. Prof. Çiğdem Nas attended the Europe Day reception organized by the EU Delegation to Türkiye at the Haliç Congress Center, hosted by İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality, on 7 May 2024. The event's opening speeches were delivered by the Head of the EU Delegation to Türkiye, Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, and the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Ekrem İmamoğlu. As Ambassador Meyer-Landrut nears the end of his term in Türkiye, he remarked, “Europe Day is a tribute to the founding values of the EU. It also honours respect for human rights, freedoms, the rule of law, and democracy. Alongside cherished memories from Türkiye, I have witnessed the solidarity and resilience of the Turkish people through numerous challenges we have faced in recent years. From devastating forest fires to last year's tragic earthquakes, the EU and its member states have consistently responded to Türkiye's calls for assistance. During my tenure here, I have had the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of a fascinating and complex country".

In his speech, President of İBB Ekrem İmamoğlu highlighted the shared values between the EU and Türkiye while criticizing the EU's refugee policy and its approach to the war in Gaza. İmamoğlu stated, “Our assertion is this: A united and democratic Europe can never be realized without Türkiye's participation. Therefore, it is unacceptable that Türkiye's name is not mentioned in discussions about the EU's enlargement policies, and that the partnership that has lasted sixty years and the membership process spanning more than twenty years are ignored. As Ambassador Meyer-Landrut mentioned, we have successfully collaborated with the EU on projects like making Istanbul a carbon-neutral city and the climate change adaptation program, but these are not enough. In the future, we aim for the EU to work more closely with local governments and to implement joint projects that will have a tangible impact on our people."