Istanbul – Public event at IPC: The German Elections and the Future of EU-Turkey Relations

Gerald Knaus and Ebru Turhan

Istanbul Policy Center (IPC), Stiftung Mercator, and the European Stability Initiative jointly organised a panel discussion on

The German Elections and the Future of EU-Turkey Relations

Ruprecht Polenz
(Former Member of the German Bundestag; Mercator-IPC Senior Fellow)

Gerald Knaus
(Founding Chairman of the European Stability Initiative)

Dr. Ebru Turhan
(Mercator-IPC Fellow)

Chair
Prof. Dr. Fuat Keyman
(Director, Istanbul Policy Center at Sabancı University)

Wednesday, January 22, 2014, 18:30

Istanbul Policy Center
Bankalar Cad: 2, Minerva Han
Karaköy, Istanbul

The 2013 federal election has been a critical juncture in EU-Turkey relations due to Germany's strong standing in the European Union in combination with its unique relationship with Turkey. Political developments following the elections already suggest significant changes. Germany lifted its veto against the opening of a new chapter and called for the opening of two additional chapters in Turkey's accession negotiations. Furthermore, the German government has tackled the controversial topic of dual citizenship and, after years of deadlock, important progress has been made in negotiations between Turkey and the EU regarding visa liberalization for Turkish citizens.

After an introduction by chair Prof. Dr. Fuat Keyman, Director of Istanbul Policy Center, the panel discussion examined different aspects of EU-Turkey relations in the light of Germany's new political landscape. Ruprecht Polenz, former member of the German Parliament and chair of its Committee on Foreign Affairs, gave an in-depth analysis of the state of German-Turkish relations after the German elections. Gerald Knaus, founding Chairman of the European Stability Initiative, discussed the future of visa liberalization between Turkey and the EU. Ebru Turhan, Mercator-IPC Fellow, examined the significance of German interests in EU-Turkey relations. The talk took place within the framework of Ruprecht Polenz's Mercator-IPC Senior Fellowship at Istanbul Policy Center.

Fuat Keyman and Ruprecht Polenz