Global Political Trends Center

European Union

Roundtable Meeting: EU-Turkey Relations, Drifting from or to the West?

GPoT Center organized a roundtable meeting in Brussels on the current developments in EU-Turkey relations in collaboration with the Friedrich Naumann Stiftung (FNS).

The issues discussed during the meeting ranged from the latest developments in Turkey-Armenian rapprochement process to the implications of the parliamentary elections in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and to the scope of the problems Turkey faces within the scope of Customs Union regulations. The participants of the meeting included members of the European Commission and European Parliament as well as representatives from Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The issues discussed during the meeting especially revolved around the democratization and reform process in Turkey. The speakers also touched upon the Cyprus question as it has become an alienating factor for the Turkish public opinion from the European Union. Moreover, the speakers highlighted the fact that with respect to lifting the isolations imposed on the Turkish Cypriots, no progress has been achieved although several promises had been given by the EU in 2004. Finally, the Customs Union issue has been tackled by the participants and especially the technical problems that the Turkish business community faces has been underlined. The speakers emphasized the need for EU officials to work with Turkey as the problems encountered by Turkey also stand as challenges for the EU member states.