Berlin – ESI at conference on Turkey’s influence in the Western Balkans

Kristof Bender talking about the EU-Turkey statement. Photo: Südosteuropagesellschaft

On 5 and 6 June 2019 ESI's Kristof Bender participated at a conference on "Sources, tools and impact of external non-EU-engagement in Southeastern Europe - Turkey" organised by the Südosteuropa-Gesellschaft in Berlin. Kristof talked about the advantages and the shortcomings of the EU-Turkey statement and what needs to be done to combine effective control of the EU's external border with a humane approach towards refugees and asylum. Other panels of the event held under Chatham House rules covered Turkish foreign policy, cultural and religious links, business and investments, and the future of EU-Turkey co-operation in the Balkans.

• ESI Core facts: The EU-Turkey Statement three years on, 15 April 2019
• Programme

Kristof with Panagiotis Nikas (NGO Zeuxis, Athens) Metin Corabatir (IGAM, Ankara) and Heinz Jürgen Axt (University of Duisburg-Essen) on the panel on "Migration policy and the Balkan route". Photo: Südosteuropa-Gesellschaft