Conference 'EPC-KBF Policy Dialogue - Euro-Turks: a bridge or a breach between Turkey and the European Union ?'

The European Policy Centre (EPC), in cooperation with the King Baudouin Foundation (KBF), organised a Policy Dialogue on 31 January to debate the findings of a new study by Istanbul Bilgi University and the KBF entitled Euro-Turks: a bridge or a breach between Turkey and the European Union?

Content

The report, "Euro-Turks: a bridge or a breach between Turkey and the European Union?", following up on two similar studies focusing on France and Germany, identifies the social, political and cultural patterns and preferences of the Turkish diaspora in Europe. It also assesses whether their relationship with the “motherland” can help create a more open and democratic society in Turkey. The study goes some way to rebut perceptions that Turkish immigrants have failed to integrate into the European mainstream, an argument often used by opponents to Turkish accession to the European Union.



Ayhan Kaya, Professor at İstanbul Bilgi University and one of the authors of the report, will presented the key findings. Cem Özdemir, MEP, and well-known expert on immigration and migration issues, and a representative of the European Commission took part in the panel discussion.



The meeting was part of the EPC’s contribution to the European Union’s 2008 Year of Inter-Cultural Dialogue.



Target group

EPC members, King Baudouin Foundation invitees, officials from the EU institutions and the media.
Date and place

31/01/2008

Period: 9.30 - 11.30

Place:

Résidence Palace (Maelbeek)
rue de la Loi 155
1040 Etterbeek
BELGIUM

Site(s)

King Baudouin Foundation
http://www.kbs-frb.be

European Policy Centre
http://www.epc.eu