IKV EU Information Centre, in cooperation with Marmara University EU Institute organised a series of seminars and concerts within the framework of the “Europe Week” on 8-9-10 May 2017. On 9 May Europe Day, an Italian musical group FLO performed traditional Neapolitan songs for its public.

The opening speech of the event was realised by Marmara University Deputy Rector Prof. Recep Bozlağan. In his speech, Bozlağan underlined the fact that the EU constitutes a project based on unity and solidarity and which has had a tremendous contribution in enhancing peace and stability across the continent. Furthermore, he indicated that Turkey has been in communication and forged relations with the EU since 1959 with the perspective of integration in one of the world’s largest economic and political bloc.

Highlighting the importance of these relations, Bozlağan also explained that the issue of the Europeanness of Turkey goes back to the 1800s, further reminding that Turkey was a party to the 1855 Paris Conference and had thus become part of the map of political Europe. As such, he argued that the rejection of Turkey’s Europeanness would thus be deemed baseless.

The Europe Week events were pursued by a conference entitled “Nature-Mankind Relations in Socio-Economic Development” with the participation of former actor and lecturer Ediz Hun. In that respect, Ediz Hun noted that the nature factor and environmental awareness is of significant importance regarding sustainable development and reminded that one should assess carefully the growing population of Turkey:

“Istanbul constitutes a megalopolis with a population of nearly 20 million people and growing. In this great city, approximately 120 million litres of waste is being produced and the current waste and recycling centres are insufficient in order to meet this challenge. Success stories in terms of waste management which are also environmentally friendly exist in EU Member States such as Germany and Sweden and I do believe it is necessary to take a closer look at their practices and to foster cooperation in that respect. Indeed, environmental awareness is of paramount importance and can contribute positively in further enhancing Turkey-EU friendship which is deeply rooted in history”.

In the second part of the programme, Turkey-EU relations were discussed from an economic perspective in light of the upcoming negotiations with respect to the modernisation of the Customs Union and possible issues and solutions within that context. The chairmanship of the panel was provided by IKV Secretary General Assoc. Prof. Çiğdem Nas and the main speakers were IKV Vice-Chairman Prof. Haluk Kabaalioğlu and IKV Strategy and Business Development Director M. Gökhan Kilit.

Realising the opening speech of the seminar, Assoc. Prof. Nas underscored that regardless of the difficulties and discrepancies, Turkey’s EU perspective remains a success story and highlighted the necessity to further strengthen efforts in making the much needed reforms in order for Turkey to achieve the objective of EU membership.

IKV Vice-Chairman Prof. Kabaalioğlu alluded to the history of Turkey’s EU perspective and stressed the strong economic ties which have been developed within the framework of the Customs Union. In that respect, he underlined the need to further enhance these relations in order to see renewed economic benefits for both sides, which would also have a positive impetus for Turkey-EU relations as a whole.

As for IKV Strategy and Business Development Director M. Gökhan Kilit, he realised a presentation regarding the upcoming negotiations on the modernisation of the Customs Union and by taking a closer look at the impact analyses which have been performed on a sectoral basis. Kilit underscored that further reforms are needed in agriculture in order for Turkey to be more efficient in both EU and global markets and, as such, he indicated that it is expected that public procurements and services would also be included within the framework of a renewed Customs Union.

In the other seminars which were realised within the framework of the Europe Week events; the role of civil society organisations in Germany was tackled by social scientist and Bremen Migrants and Intercultural Studies Centre Director Gudrun Münchmeyer-Eliş, the issue of migration, nationality and identity in the context of European integration was explored by social pedagogue and Bremen Migrants and Intercultural Studies Chairman Ali Eliş, the example of the Erasmus Programme and student exchange between Turkish and German universities was explained by Marmara University EU Institute Director Prof. Muzaffer Dartan and EU programmes and project opportunities was analysed and explored thoroughly by IKV Junior Researcher Deniz Servantie. Furthermore, an Italian group known as FLO realised a show with Neapolitan songs, entertaining the participants.