TAIEX Seminar on Strengthening the EU Türkiye Cooperation on Irregular Migration is held

The TAIEX Seminar on "Strengthening the EU - Türkiye Cooperation on Irregular Migration", organised in cooperation between the Ministry for EU Affairs and European Commission TAIEX Unit is held in Ankara Plaza Hotel, between 13th - 14th December 2011.

The seminar is organised with the aim of strengthening Türkiye - EU cooperation in the area of irregular migration which is managed under Chapter 24 "Freedom, Security, Justice". The opening speech of the conference is delivered by the Ministry for EU Affairs Undersecretary H.E. Ambassador Haluk Ilıcak. Ambassador Ilıcak mentioned in his speech that, Chapter 24 creates a wide window of opportunity for a closer cooperation between EU and Türkiye on issues such as, migration and border management, visa policy, police cooperation, fight against terror and fight against drug trafficking but the political blockage of the Greek South Cypriot Administration prevents the opening of negotiations for this chapter. Ambassador Ilıcak added that despite political blockages, reform process in areas managed under Chapter 24 is conducted with determination.

Ambassador Ilıcak also indicated that although Türkiye continues its efforts in the fight against irregular migration and implements its obligations emanating from international agreements and national legislation, Türkiye is also neighbouring with EU countries and countries with security gaps in their borders at the same time. Mr. Ilıcak also emphasized that there is an important responsibility to be assumed by the EU for sustaining the security of Türkiye's borders which will eventually be the borders of the EU in the near future.