Joint Symposium: “Beyond Chapters – The Future of Turkey in Europe”

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ORSAM in cooperation with IPM-Sabancı University-Stiftung Mercator Initiative, ABKAD and TOBB University of Economics & Technology organized a conference entitled “Beyond Chapters – The Future of Turkey in Europe”. The conference took place on 18 November 2014 in Ankara. The speakers discussed Turkey-EU relations, blockages during the negotiation process and solutions for the Turkey’s accession to the European Union (EU).
 
The conference moderated by ORSAM President Şaban Kardaş. The conference started with the opening speeches of Dean Tuğrul Arat, Professor of International Relations at TOBB ETU and Fuat Keyman Director of Istanbul Policy Center and Professor of International Relations at Sabancı University. Tuğrul Arat started his speech with introducing newly established organization ABKAD. He explained ABKAD that is to contribute Turkey-EU relations in a way that can shape public opinion in a positive manner.  He also pointed out that Turkey-EU relation needs fresh ideas and eventually to be reached a membership. Thus, he underlined that both sides must take responsibilities at this point. After Tuğrul Arat’s Fuat Keyman gave his speech. Fuat Keyman addressed that Turkey-EU relations should be considered carefully. He emphasized that Turkey can contribute immensely to EU and EU can contribute the Turkey.   Thus, both sides should establish equal, symmetrical, mutual interest, mutual benefit type of relations that would actually create important results. He also mentioned Turkey can contribute EU by helping especially in global stability and security matters.
 
The conference continued with the speakers speeches.  The first speaker of the conference was Hannes Swoboda, former member of the European Parliament and Mercator-IPC Senior Fellow at Istanbul Policy Center. Swoboda said that, being pessimistic or optimistic on EU-Turkey relations is not the main issue. The issue is that EU can live without Turkey and Turkey can live without EU but the crucial thing is they can live better with each other. Thus, he said that we should consider this and act accordingly. He mentioned that we should have new directions and bring new inputs to EU-Turkey relations to gain momentum. Not only Turkey but also Europeans need new inputs. In addition Swoboda pointed to Turkey’s positive efforts in this process. He finalized his speech saying that Turkey should fulfill necessary conditions in order to gain momentum in membership process. By doing these developing communication has utmost importance.
 
The last speaker was the AK Party Siirt Deputy and co-Chair of Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee, Afif Demirkıran. He began his speech by evoking that EU is a Modernization Project perceived by Turkey and it is the second biggest Project comes after establishment of Republic in Turkey. He pointed out that, Turkey has been experiencing journey for EU membership for 51 years. He said that 51 years is huge duration and Turkey somehow has caused this long duration because of political instabilities and Coup d’états. After 1999 Helsinki Summit and starting with AK Party era, Turkey finally showed some sincere efforts to become European. He finalized his speech by pointing out Turkey’s vitality for Europe as being strategically and geopolitically important country with its role on being balancing power in the region.
 
After speakers’ speeches, the conference ended with Q&A session and an open discussion on the future of Turkey – EU relations.