IKV Chairperson Ayhan Zeytinoğlu met with the European Commission Deputy Director General for Trade and Head of Unit Nele Eichhorn on 5 July 2023. During the meeting with the Deputy Director General of Trade Nele Eichhorn, who is responsible for relations with Türkiye as well as EUs neighbours, the Middle East, Russia, and Central Asia, and industry, commodity trade, regulatory cooperation, public procurement, relations between Türkiye and EU, Customs Union and updating, visa liberalization and the latest developments in trade were discussed.

During the meeting, Chairperson Zeytinoğlu discussed the problems experienced within the scope of the Customs Union and emphasized the need for updating. Chairperson Zeytinoğlu brought up a proposal presented by IKV to overcome the existing problems by creating a "green and digital agenda" in Türkiye-EU relations. Chairperson Zeytinoğlu also noted that this proposal would not replace Türkiyes EU membership bid, but could create an impetus to overcome the difficulties and obstacles blocking relations. IKV Chairperson Ayhan Zeytinoğlu was accompanied by IKV Secretary General Assoc. Prof. Çiğdem Nas and Junior Researchers Sema Nur Yeniyıldız and Ahmet Emre Usta.