Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Volkan Bozkır attended the regular meeting of IKV Board of Directors to discuss the current situation in Turkey-EU relations and Turkey’s new EU Strategy. Underlining the importance of the continuation of Turkey’s EU membership process, Bozkır acknowledged IKV’s efforts as being the most powerful institution in this process. Under the framework of “New Turkey” ideal, Bozkır highlighted the need for increasing the living standards of Turkish citizens. To that end, Bozkır continued, the reforms in this process serve the purposes of “New Turkey”. Minister Bozkır also underlined the importance of progress achieved in the EU membership negotiations and mentioned the surprising effect of the strong EU emphasis in Turkey’s  new programme on the decision-makers of the EU. Reminding the importance of the civil society for a better communication with the EU, Bozkır asserted the strengthening of the efforts with regard to visa liberalisation dialogue, TTIP, and Customs Union.

In his opening speech, IKV Chairman Ömer Cihad Vardan underlined the recent official visit of three European Commissioners to Turkey and stated that “this is happening for the first time in Turkey-EU relations and we are pleased about this constructive attitude of new Commissioners.” Indicating the positive effect of the possibility of opening the “Economic and Monetary Policy” Chapter to negotiations, Vardan reminded the encouraging attitude of the former Head of the EU Delegation to Turkey Ambassador Stefano Manservisi towards Turkey and stated that the new role of Ambassador Manservisi as the Chief of Federica Mogherini’s Cabinet is going to contribute Turkey’s EU membership process. IKV Chairman Vardan also underlined IKV’s commitment to further strengthen the efforts for this process as the voice of civil society and business community in Turkey in its 50^th year in 2015.

Following the opening speeches of Minister Volkan Bozkır and IKV Chairman Ömer Cihad Vardan, Bozkır and IKV Board of Directors discussed the current situation and latest developments in Turkey-EU relations.