IKV organised a panel entitled “Turkey-EU Prospects after Varna Summit and the Role of Bulgaria” in Sofia on 8 May 2018. Numerous ambassadors and high-level representatives of diplomatic missions attended the panel that was organised by the joint cooperation of Turkish Embassy in Sofia and PanEuropa Bulgaria. The opening speeches of the panel were delivered by Turkish Ambassador to Bulgaria Hasan Ulusoy and the IKV Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu.

During his opening speech, Turkish Ambassador to Bulgaria Ulusoy noted that the Varna Summit, which was convened thanks to the efforts of Bulgaria, presented an opportunity for open talks between Turkey and the EU in a constructive setting. Ambassador also gave the message that Turkey will not give up on its strategic objective of accession to the EU. He also added that the EU is an aggregation of values and Turkey is a member of all of the European institutions except for the EU itself. As Ulusoy further indicated, Turkey will be a European country whether it is acceded to the EU or not, though the EU without Turkey will not carry out its aim of becoming a project of civilisation in real terms.  

On the other hand, during his opening speech, IKV Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu expressed that the Varna Summit convened in March, is a positive step towards the sustainability of the dialogue between the parties. Zeytinoğlu reminded that Juncker personally guaranteed that the accession negotiations will continue and underlined that these declarations have to be in practical terms. He emphasised that Turkey is seen as a “strategic partner”, rather than a candidate country. IKV Chairman Zeytinoğlu emphasised that it is a loss that Turkey has not been invited to the EU-Western Balkans Summit which will take place on 17 May 2018 in Sofia. He pointed out to the early elections in Turkey, the EP elections in 2019, and the completion of Brexit negotiations and highlighted that both Turkey and the EU should progress with caution and determination. During his speech, IKV Chairman suggested that modernisation of the Customs Union may be effective in developing economic and commercial ties between Turkey and the EU and Turkey’s alignment with the EU standards. He also criticised that Turkish citizens are still subject to the visa requirements although Turkey is a party to the Customs Union since 1996 and a candidate country since 1999.    

At the meeting moderated by the former Foreign Minister of Bulgaria Solomon Pasi, who was representing PanEuropa Bulgaria, Permanent Representative of Turkey to the EU Faruk Kaymakcı, Head of the EC Representation in Bulgaria Ambassador Ognian Zlatev, Director of the EU Institutions and Policies of the Bulgarian Presidency under the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry Genka Georgieva and IKV Secretary General Assoc. Prof. Çiğdem Nas delivered speeches.  During this panel, information regarding the cooperation in the area of migration, dialogue processes and pre-accession financial assistance that make up different dimensions of Turkey-EU relations were given, and also visa liberalisation and the modernisation of the Customs Union were pronounced as the areas which would improve the relations at short date, in the light of the deadlock in the accession negotiations.

Following the panel, IKV committee consisting of IKV Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu, IKV Secretary General Assoc. Prof. Çiğdem Nas, Research Director Çisel İleri and Senior Researcher Yeliz Şahin joined the lunch held by Ambassador Ulusoy at the Embassy Residence.