Programme

38th meeting of the EU-Turkey Joint Consultative Committee (JCC)

8 and 9 April 2019, Brussels

PROGRAMME

8 April

9.30 a.m. Registration of participants – Rue Van Maerlant 2

10 – 10.45 a.m. Opening session

• Panagiotis GKOFAS, member of the EESC, Co-chair of the EU-Turkey Joint Consultative Committee
• M. Rifat HİSARCIKLIOĞLU, President of TOBB, Co-chair of the EU-Turkey Joint Consultative Committee
• Myriam FERRAN, Director, DG NEAR, European Commission
• H.E. Ambassador Faruk KAYMAKCI, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs & Director for EU Affairs of Turkey

10.45 – 11 a.m. Coffee Break

11 – 12 a.m. EU-Turkey relations

Presentations on the current state of play and future relations

• Bernard BRUNET, Head of Unit, DG NEAR, European Commission
• H.E. Ambassador Mehmet Kemal BOZAY, Permanent Delegate of Turkey to the EU
• Amanda PAUL, Senior Policy Analyst, European Policy Centre (EPC)

 Debate

12 a.m. – 1 p.m. SMEs – Trade development and investment environment. Opportunities between the EU and Turkey

Presentation of written reports

• Patrick DE SMEDT, Senior Expert, DG GROW, European Commission
• Panagiotis GKOFAS, EU-TK JCC member, EESC rapporteur
• Sait AKMAN, TEPAV G20 Studies Center Director, JCC-TR rapporteur
• Itir AYKUT, Chair of International Relations Committee of KAGIDER, Women Entrepreneurs Association of Turkey

 Debate

1 – 2.30 p.m. Business Lunch hosted by the EESC. Location: EESC, JDE building, 1st floor, VIP restaurant

2.30 – 4 p.m. The civil society organisations, including the social partners, and Turkey-EU Accession Process

Presentation of written reports

• Gabriella CIVICO, European Volunteer Centre, EESC Liaison Group
• Berivan ÖNGÖRUR, EU-Turkey JCC member, EESC rapporteur
• Çiğdem NAS, Secretary General of İKV, JCC-TR rapporteur

Debate

4 – 4.15 p.m. Coffee Break

4.15 – 5.15 p.m. The modernisation of the EU-Turkey Customs Union

• Petros SOURMELIS, Head of Unit, DG TRADE, European Commission
• Jonathan PEEL, EESC member of the EU-Turkey JCC
• Pınar ERSEN, Chief Commercial Counsellor, Permanent Representation of Turkey to the EU

 Debate

5.30 p.m. End of first day

7 p.m. Dinner hosted by the EESC. Location: Park Side Brasserie (24 Avenue de la Joyeuse Entree, 1040 Brussels)

9 April

9.30 – 10.30 a.m. The visa dialogue

• Anitta HIPPER, International Relations Officer, DG HOME, European Commission
• Murat ŞEN, Legal Counsellor, Permanent Representation of Turkey to the EU

 Debate

10.30 – 10.45 a.m. Topics to discuss in upcoming JCC meetings

10.45 – 11 a.m. Coffee break

11 a.m. – 12.45 p.m. Concluding remarks

12.45 p.m. End of meeting

Practical information:

Venue: EESC, VMA 3, Rue Van Maerlant 2
Interpreting: English/Greek/Italian/Turkish
Contact: Turkeyeesc [dot] europa [dot] eu