As part of the launch of its report titled “Revitalizing Turkey–European Union Relations on the 20th Anniversary of Accession Negotiations: A New Roadmap,” Global Relations Forum (GRF) held a series of high-level meetings in Brussels from March 17-20, 2025.
Led by Ambassador (R) Selim Yenel, GRF President, the delegation included key contributors to the report: Ambassador (R) Selim Kuneralp; Professor Sinem Akgül-Açıkmeşe, Head of Department of International Relations at Kadir Has University; Nilgün Arısan-Eralp, Director of the EU Studies Center at TEPAV; and Fulya Kocukoğlu, GRF Program Director.
The delegation conducted in-depth consultations on the current state and future prospects of Turkey–EU relations during meetings with the European External Action Service (EEAS), the European Parliament, Brussels-based think tanks, and members of the media. Notable engagements included discussions with Ambassador Charles Fries, EEAS Deputy Secretary General for Peace, Security, and Defense; Simon Mordue, EEAS Deputy Secretary General for Economic and Global Affairs; and Nacho Sánchez Amor, the European Parliament’s Rapporteur on Turkey.
On March 18, GRF and the Center for European Policy Studies (CEPS) co-hosted a public panel discussion in Brussels, attended by nearly seventy participants. The discussion highlighted the need for Turkey–EU relations to move beyond the confines of security and defense, stressing the importance of progress in areas such as the modernization of the Customs Union, visa liberalization, the rule of law, and fundamental rights.
A roundtable hosted by TÜSİAD’s EU-Brussels Representative Office further explored opportunities for collaboration in the defense industry and assessed the business community’s views on Turkey’s EU membership in light of its strategic importance.
Throughout the visit, GRF’s report was praised for its balanced content and timely release. Stakeholders across institutions welcomed GRF’s civil society–driven approach to enhancing dialogue and mutual understanding in Turkey–EU relations.
GRF remains committed to addressing Turkey’s engagement with the European Union through a multidimensional lens. To this end, GRF continues to advance its work through public diplomacy and sustained multilateral engagement.
As part of the visit, the GRF delegation also had the opportunity to meet with alumni of the GRF Young Fellows Program currently pursuing graduate studies at the College of Europe (Bruges) and Sciences Po Paris.