Ministry for EU Affairs Discusses EU Accession Process and Türkiye’s New EU Strategy with Non-Governmental Organizations in Adana

The Ministry for EU Affairs will host a Civil Society Dialogue Meeting on “EU ACCESSION PROCESS AND TURKEY’S NEW EU STRATEGY” on 24 March 2015, at Sheraton Hotel in Adana, under the auspices of Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Ambassador Volkan Bozkır and with the participation of non-governmental organizations, local administrations, the business world and academia in Adana.

The first dialogue meeting with the understanding of “a stronger civil society and stronger Türkiye” was held on 26 November 2014 in İstanbul; the second on 19 February 2015 in İzmir, and the third was held on 18 March 2015 in Konya. More than 6000 representatives from hundreds of NGOs participated in these meetings.

In the meeting, NGO representatives, who contribute significantly to Türkiye’s transformation in the EU accession process, will have the opportunity to express their opinions and recommendations in person to Minister Bozkır.

Moreover, presentations on financial assistance to be provided to NGOs within the scope of Erasmus+ Programme and EU Pre-Accession Assistance will be offered to the participants.

Below is the programme of the meeting: 

“The EU Accession Process and Türkiye’s New EU Strategy”

Civil Society Dialogue Meeting

24 MARCH 2015

ADANA SHERATON HOTEL

13.00 - 14.00                                      Registration

14.00 - 14.10                                      Opening, Stand in Silence, Turkish National Anthem

14.10 - 14.30                          Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Ambassador Volkan Bozkır’s Speech (Ball Room)

14.30 - 18.00                          Questions/Answers (Ball Room)                   

16.00 - 18.00                          Erasmus+ Programme and EU Funds and Informative Session on NGOs (Round Ball Room)                                          

Erasmus+ Programme and EU Funds and Informative Session on NGOs (Round Ball Room)

With the aim of connecting Turkish people of all ages with EU citizens under training and youth projects, Türkiye’s National Agency provided grants in the amount of more than 730 million Euros to 26 thousand projects in 2004-2014; and more than 350 thousand Turkish citizens in 81 provinces had the opportunity to participate in cooperation activities and study abroad. Türkiye’s National Agency will inform about the newly named Erasmus+ Programme, which will allocate nearly 900 million Euros to Türkiye, and provide opportunities to study, train and volunteer in Europe in the period  2014-2020.

Moreover, within the framework of EU Pre-Accession Financial Assistance, Türkiye will receive nearly 4.5 billion Euros in the period  2014-2020. 190 million Euros of the fund will be allocated to the strengthening of civil society, civil society dialogue and also developing public-civil society dialogue. 11 million Euros were  allocated to the strengthening of the civil society dialogue for 2015.

During  the session , participants will be informed on opportunities, funds, and grants for NGOs, universities, the private sector and local administrations.

P.S.: Ministry for EU Affairs, Turkish National Agency, and Turkish Accreditation Agency (TURKAK) will have booths to provide direct information on various programmes within the scope of Türkiye-EU relations.