Events

Turkey as a European and Regional Hub : Implications for Euro-Mediterranean Relations

By 02/05/2016April 25th, 2020No Comments

A joint initiative of the Economic Development Foundation (IKV:  http://ikv.org.tr/) and The Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB: http://www.cidob.org/), with the support of The European League for Economic Cooperation ( ELEC: http://www.eleclece.eu/en/) and Obra Social “La Caixa”: (http://obrasocial.lacaixa.es/ambitos/becas_es.html )

Turkey has often been depicted as a bridge between Europe and neighbouring regions: the Middle East, Central Asia and the Caucasus. In a globalised world, connections are important but the image of a hub reflects, more accurately, Turkey’s strategic position. This international meeting will analyse Turkey’s connecting assets in four different sectors: energy, finances, infrastructures and foreign policy. Thus, experts, governmental officials and representatives of the private sector will analyse existing and potential connections that have Turkey as a centre and connect with other European and regional hubs. This discussion will allow participants to discuss the future of EU-Turkish relations from a strategic angle and assess the current and potential role of Turkey in broader Euro-Mediterranean dynamics.

Day 1, Friday February 5th 2016

15:00: INAUGURATION
Welcome remarks by LECE, CIDOB and IKV
Welcome speech: Volkan Bozkır, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Chief EU negotiator

16:00 – 17:30: FIRST SESSION: Turkey as an energy hub:
– Sohbet Karbuz, Observatoire Méditerranéen de l’Energie, Paris (to be confirmed)
– Yagiz Eyuboglu, Head of Koc Holding Energy Group, Chairman of TISK
– A member of the European Commission

Coffee break

18:00 – 19:30: SECOND SESSION: Turkey as a financial hub:
– Fabian Briegel, Joined the Country Risk Research team, Rabobank, Utrecht
– Yavuz Canevi, Chiarman of Turkish Economy Bank, Former Governor of Turkish Central Bank,
– Jorge Sicilia, Chief economist, BBVA, Istanbul-Madrid

Day 2, Saturday February 6th 2016

9:30 – 11:00 THIRD SESSION: Turkey as an infrastructure, communications and logistics hub:
– Yiğit Alpogan, Deputy Secretary General, Union for the Mediterranean
– A representative of the Turkish private sector
– Çetin Nuhoğlu, Chairman of International Transporters Association
– François Begerot, DG Mobility and Transport, European Commission (to be confirmed)

Coffee break

11:30 – 13:15: Turkey as a production and service hub
– Antonio Martins da Cruz, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal, Lisbon
– Güven Sak, Director of TEPAV
– Haluk Nuray, Brussels/EU Representative, IKV

13:15 – 14:00: CLOSING REMARKS
Keynote speech: HansJorg Haber, Head of the European Union delegation in Turkey