The EU Committee of the Regions Türkiye Working Group’s 26th Meeting was held on 15 December 2021 on-line due to Covid-19 situation.
The meeting which was chaired by Councillor Jens Christian Gjesing from Haderslev Municipality of Denmark, brought together representatives from central and local authorities of Türkiye and the EU where discussions took place with regard to the recent developments between EU – Türkiye relations and local economic development in the framework of the post Covid-19 pandemic.
In the first part of the meeting, Zeynel Abidin Beyazgül, Mayor of Şanlıurfa Metropolitan Municipality also Vice President of TBB and Amb. Faruk Kaymakcı, Türkiye’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director for EU Affairs addressed the participants. On the discussions about “Local economic development in the framework of the post Covid-19 pandemic”, Councillor Cemal Baş from Keçiören Municipality and Councillor Lale Bektaş from Yenimahalle Municipality made presentations.
Amb. Mehmet Kemal Bozay, Permanent Delegate of Türkiye to the EU contibuted to the meeting as well through a closing speech.
During the discussions, the EU side was represented by Ignacio Sánchez Amor, Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur on Türkiye, Henrike Trautmann, Acting Director, Neighbourhood South and Türkiye, Directorate General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, European Commission, Angel Gutierrez Hidalgo de Quintana, Head of Economic and Social Development Section, Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye.