Turkey will hold a referendum regarding a presidential government system on April 16 and, depending on the outcome, a change in the system of state management will occur . While the referendum date is approaching, European countries are taking a stand by adopting specific political positions in relation to the referendum. This case exposes a new crisis in Turkey-EU relations. Countries like Germany, the Netherlands and Austria have taken sides on the referendum by by repeatedly criticizing the “Yes” camp.  This arouses curiosity regarding the direction Turkey-EU relations will take after the referendum. In this spirit, the panel “The Referendum Process and the Future of Turkey-EU Relations,” organized by SETA European Research Directorate, will discuss in detail European countries’ attitudes to the referendum process of Turkey. What is the meaning of European countries’ hostility towards Turkish ministers’ election propaganda? Why have European countries adopted such harsh and anti-democratic attitudes towards the “Yes” propaganda, while they allow terror organizations to rally in favor of the “No” camp? How will Turkey-EU relations develop in light of these attitudes? Answers to these and many more questions will be discussed at the panel.

SETA European Research Director Enes Bayraklı will be the moderator of the panel, and its speakers include Mehdi Eker, Vice Chairman of the AK Party; Bruno Maçaes, former Europe Minister of Portugal and fellow at Renmin University; and Adam McConnel from Sabancı University.

All participants are welcome