Study Tour in Brussels, Summer 2011
Study Tour in Brussels, Summer 2011
Ecorys in Turkey in cooperation with Ecorys in Brussels, organized a successful EU study tour covering Brussels and Rotterdam cities for the Bingöl Governorship EU Coordination Centre between 12/16 July, 2011. Several EU Institutions have been visited including European Commission, European Parliament, Council of the EU, Committee of the Regions (CoR) as well as Rotterdam Investment Support Agency. Detailed information has been provided through special presentations and meetings with high-level EU officers which resulted in an excellent understanding of the functions and operations of the EU and its institutions; and, enriched the perspective of the participants to EU-Turkey Relations.
In Brussels, General Director of Communications Ms. Esther CANGA-PEREZ from the Council of Europe has made a presentation about the history and main pillars of the European Union to the participants. Turkey’s importance and history on her way to EU membership was the topic of another presentation by Mr. Miltiades Economides, senior expert from DG Enlargement Turkey Unit of the European Commission, which provided information on the past, present and future developments in the EU-Turkey accession negotiations. The Head of DG Enterprise and Industry Tourism Policy Department Alain Liberos has made a presentation on the Union’s tourism policies by focusing the role and importance of Turkey accordingly. Another meeting was held with Mr. Victor Tilea of the Civex Commission, Committee of The Regions. The functions and role of the regional commissions among the EU institutions were examined in detail. The visit to Rotterdam Investment Support Agency was also an important part of the programme. The Participants were informed by the activities and services of the Agency through an exclusive presentation by Ms. Julia Meer, the Foreign Investments General Director and the Head of Turkey Group. One of the most remarkable meeting of the programme was held with the Italian Member of the European Parliament HE. Ms. Barbara Matera from the European People’s Party, who is also a member of the Delegation to EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee.
The programme enabled the participants to build up strong and long-lasting relations with EU functioners and was a success in terms of improving the knowledge of the participants on EU, its institutions and EU-Turkey Relations.