At the panel which was organised on 13 March 2018 in cooperation with IKV and İzmir Yaşar University, future scenarios of Europe and Turkey issue were discussed. The panel in which IKV Vice-Chairman Prof. Halûk Kabaalioğlu delivered the opening speech, was moderated by Yaşar University Head of International Relations Department Assoc. Prof. Emre İşeri. At the panel, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences and the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences Prof. Aylin Güney from Yaşar University, Director of The Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV) Center for Multilateral Trade Studies Retired Ambassador Bozkurt Aran, Director of Ankara University European Research Centre (ATAUM) Prof. Sanem Baykal and IKV Secretary General Assoc. Prof. Çiğdem Nas took place as panelists.

In his opening speech, IKV Vice-Chair Prof. Halûk Kabaalioğlu stated that in order to understand the future of EU-Turkey relations, it is necessary to know history. Prof. Kabaalioğlu narrated that the idea Bohemia King Podiebrad put forward with regard to the European integration in the 15^th century, was also proposed by visionary people such as William Penn in England and also stated that the European integration without Turkey cannot be considered complete. At the beginning of the panel, Prof. Aylin Güney recited the five scenarios which were put forward by the European Commission on March 2017 concerning the future of the EU. Güney denoted that EU is in a process of restructuring in light of these scenarios, and said that Turkey-EU relations will also be affected from this process. Following his remarks that a systematic change is not only happening in the EU but over the world, retired Ambassador Bozkurt Aran expressed that the current developments such as the differences which are occurring under Trump’s presidency in the US, rising populism in the EU and the protectionist tendencies in international trade should be taken as a whole. Aran highlighted that all relevant parties in the EU candidate member Turkey, including academy and civil society particularly, need to follow these changes closely and analyse them.

While stating that the EU has a unique organisational structure, Prof. Sanem Baykal reminded that it is a legal union above all else. Prof. Baykal pointed out that it is not easy to transform the EU into a multi-speed structure, which is also called differentiated integration and emphasised that the EU cannot evolve into such a structure without forming the legal framework first. IKV Secretary General Assoc. Prof. Çiğdem Nas said that the future of EU-Turkey relations are closely related to the EU reform efforts. Nas stated that Turkey’s negotiations with the EU have not made a progress; some circles have brought up a model which is called privileged partnership with Turkey again. IKV Secretary General who reminded that such a formula could not be accepted by Turkey, and denoted that stagnation on the relations might be overcome with the processes such as visa liberalisation, modernisation of the Customs Union at least in the short run. While underlining the need for positive developments in regards to democracy, law and the fundamental rights for the rejuvenation of the relations between Turkey and the EU, Assoc. Prof. Nas expressed that the strengthening of the populist movements in the EU is disconcerting.