PROVINCES PREPARING FOR THE EU MERSIN

The EU-Turkey Conference within the framework of “Building a Knowledge Infrastructure in Mersin for EU Accession” Project under the “Provinces Preparing for the European Union” Programme carried out by the Ministry for EU Affairs was held in Mersin with the participation of Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis, Minister of Economy Zafer Caglayan and Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock Mehmet Mehdi Eker. 

Delivering a closing speech in the conference at the Mediterranean Exporter Unions, Bagis stated that 79 applications to the “Provinces Preparing for the EU” Programme were received and 25 of them were accepted including the project of Governorate of Mersin.

Indicating that the ships’ departure from the port of Mersin started to transmit the message of Turkey to the world along with the Turkish flags, Bagis said “Today, the intensity in our foreign trade, increase in exports and Turkey’s being an inspiration for both the eastern and western countries place Mersin in a different position. We hope to see Mersin more active in the EU accession process.”

Furthermore, Minister of Food, Agriculture and Livestock Mehmet Mehdi Eker underlined that the purpose of the EU accession process was to increase the quality of the daily lives of the citizens. After his speech, Minister of Economy Zafer Caglayan took the stage and stated that Turkey was already integrated with the EU on many different issues and became successful economically.