The 64th General Assembly of IKV was held in Istanbul on 3 July 2024 with the participation of the presidents of the Foundation’s Founding and Trustee Institutions, representatives of Supporting Organisations and delegates. The General Assembly was chaired by President of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce Şekib Avdagiç, while Chairperson of the Assembly of the Kocaeli Chamber of Industry Hasan Tahsin Tuğrul served as Vice Chairperson. IKV Secretary General Assoc. Prof. Çiğdem Nas acted as Rapporteur. Opening remarks were delivered by IKV Chairperson Dr. Ayhan Zeytinoğlu, the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye Şekib Avdagiç, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director for EU Affairs Ambassador Mehmet Kemal Bozay.

In his opening address, Dr. Ayhan Zeytinoğlu stated that, for over 60 years since its establishment, IKV has consistently pursued its mission of supporting Türkiye-EU relations and Türkiye’s full EU membership through research, publications, and advocacy activities. Stressing that Türkiye’s strategic importance has increased at a time of growing global uncertainty and the EU’s stronger focus on energy security, economic security, and competitiveness, he nevertheless noted that the accession process remains stalled and criticised the EU for continuing to apply double standards. He pointed out that while countries such as Albania and Ukraine are advancing rapidly in accession negotiations, Türkiye’s negotiation chapters remain blocked. Dr. Zeytinoğlu also underlined that significant ambiguity persists regarding the automotive sector under the "Made in EU" criterion introduced by the Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act. He emphasised that negotiations on the modernisation of the Customs Union, which have been delayed for a decade, should finally be launched, and highlighted the competitive disadvantages created for Turkish businesses by the EU’s expanding network of free trade agreements with third countries.

Speaking on behalf of TOBB, Şekib Avdagiç noted that IKV, established by the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce and the Istanbul Chamber of Industry more than 60 years ago, has become one of Türkiye’s leading centres of expertise and policy analysis on EU affairs, making valuable contributions by informing both the business community and the public while providing guidance to policymakers. Referring to the reshaping of global trade, he argued that the EU’s "Made in EU" approach risks excluding Türkiye from certain processes. He stressed that closer cooperation between Türkiye and the EU has become essential in areas such as economic security and resilient supply chains. Avdagiç also described Türkiye’s exclusion from the SAFE programme—despite the participation of several non-EU countries, including Canada—as an indication of the EU’s problematic approach and argued that Europe’s emerging security architecture cannot function effectively without Türkiye.

Ambassador Mehmet Kemal Bozay, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director for EU Affairs, emphasised that the rules-based international order is entering a period characterised by increasing disorder and systemic instability. He noted that every major transformation of the international system has been accompanied by new power balances and competition over energy, arguing that today’s disruptive forces are driven by artificial intelligence and digitalisation. Ambassador Bozay highlighted the growing global competition to control Eurasia and establish strategic connectivity corridors. Referring to conflicts ranging from the Russia-Ukraine war to the Black Sea, the Suez Canal, and the Strait of Hormuz, he underlined their close connection to the control of trade routes. He also stated that, situated at the crossroads of three continents, Türkiye is pursuing a connectivity strategy in cooperation with the European Investment Bank. Ambassador Bozay concluded by thanking IKV for its pioneering role in explaining Türkiye’s EU process to both the business community and the wider public.

Following the opening speeches, the General Assembly unanimously approved IKV’s 2025 activity and financial reports, as well as the auditors’ reports, and adopted the Foundation’s 2026 work programme and budget directive. The meeting concluded with Dr. Ayhan Zeytinoğlu, on behalf of the IKV Board of Directors, expressing his appreciation to the delegates for their continued support.