The 17th International Conference on “the European Union, Turkey, the Middle East and the Kurds” will take place at the European Parliament in Brussels tomorrow, Wednesday 8, and Thursday 9 March.

For information write to: [email protected]

The program is as follows: 

Opening Speeches and Greetings

•Ms. Kariane Westrheim, Chair of EUTCC, University of Bergen, Norway

•Ms. Shirin Ebadi, Human Rights Lawyer, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Iran (video message)

•Mr. François Alfonsi, MEP, Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA), France

•Ms. Dersim Dagdeviren, Kurd-Akad, EUTCC Board Member, Germany

Wednesday, 8 March 2023, 16.00-17.30

Panel I – Room SPAAK 05B01

100 Years Republic of Turkey: Continuations, Contradictions and Change

Moderator: Ms. Amberin Zaman, Senior Correspondent, UK

Interpretation in
Kurdish, Turkish, French, English, German

100 Years of the Turkish Republic and the Treaty of Lausanne: Historical Continuations and Present Realities
•Mr. Baskın Oran, Historian, Turkey

Elections in Turkey: New Start versus Continuity
•Ms. Meral Danış Beştaş, HDP Group Deputy Chair, Turkey

A Country in Ruins: Earthquake, human rights and racism
•Ms. Rehsan Bataray, Human Rights Association Diyarbakir Branch, Turkey

Questions and Discussion with Moderators and Speakers

Wednesday, 8 March 2023, 17.30-18.30

Panel II – Room SPAAK 05B01

The Causa İmralı and European Institutions: Law, Obligations and Deficits

Moderator: Ms. Barbara Spinelli, ELDH Co-Chair, Italy

Interpretation in
Kurdish, Turkish, French, English, German

The Imprisonment Conditions of Abdullah Öcalan: From an Individual Case to the Lawlessness of the Whole Turkey
•Ms. Raziye Öztürk, Asrın Law Office, Turkey

Preventing Torture: Limits and Obligations
•Ms. Ann Jessica Therese Karlqvist, MP, Left Party, Sweden

Questions and Discussion with Moderators and Speakers

Thursday, 9 March 2023, 09.30-10.30

Panel III – Room SPAAK 05B01

The Autonomous Administration of Northern and Eastern Syria: In the Crossfire of Interests

Moderator: Ms. Ezo Özer, journalist, Germany

Interpretation in
Kurdish, Turkish, French, English, German

Interview with

•Ms. Ilham Ahmad, Co-Chair of the Executive Committee of the Syrian Democratic Council, Syria

•Mr. Andreas Schieder, MEP, Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Austria

Questions and Discussion with Moderators and Speakers

Thursday, 9 March 2023, 10.30-13.00

Panel IV – Room SPAAK 05B01

Turkey, the Kurds and the Middle East: Continuations and Challenges

Moderator: Mr. Michael Gunter, Tennessee Technological University, EUTCC Secretary General, US

Interpretation in
Kurdish, Turkish, French, English, German

War crimes in Kurdistan: From Halabja to Today
•Mr. Salar Mahmoud, Head of Kurdistan Genocide Writers Union, Iraq

The Alleged Use of Chemical Weapons by Turkey: Questions and Options
•Mr. Jan van Aken, Biologist, Member of Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War`s (IPPNW) Scientific Advisory Board, Germany

Turkey´s New War: Drones and Deals
•Mr. Georges Henri Beauthier, Lawyer, Belgium

Turkey´s Crimes Against Humanity: Ecocide, Feminicide, Genocide
•Ms. Bedia Özgökçe, former HDP MP and Mayor of Van, Turkey

Questions and Discussion with Moderators and Speakers

Thursday, 9 March 2023, 15.00-16:45

Panel VI – Room SPAAK 05B01

The EU and the Kurds: Expectations and Options

Moderator: Mr. Joost Jongerden, EUTCC Board Member, University of Wageningen, Netherlands

Interpretation in
Kurdish, Turkish, French, English, German

Kurdish Expectations of Europe
•Ms. Nilüfer Koc, Kurdistan National Congress Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Belgium

De-Listing: Lifting Political Barriers
•Ms. Besra Güler, Association for Democracy and International Law (Maf-Dad), Germany

The December 23 Attack in Paris: Many Questions – Less Answers
•Ms. Berivan Firat, Democratic Council of Kurds in French Foreign Relations Committee, France

Europe and the Kurdish Question: Contradictions and Options
•Mr. Nikolaj Villumsen, MEP, Vice-Chair The Left, Denmark

Questions and Discussion with Moderators and Speakers

Thursday, 9 March 2023, 16:45-17.45

Panel VIII – Room SPAAK 05B01

Women Waving Future: Obstacles and Opportunities

Moderator: Ms. Nese Özgen, Antropologist, Germany

Interpretation in
Kurdish, Turkish, French, English, German

Jin – Jiyan – Azadî: A paradigm for freedom
•Ms. Maryam Fethi, East Kurdistan Free Women Society, Spain

Living International Solidarity – Creating Women Alliances
•Ms. Evin Incir, MEP, Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Member of The EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee, Sweden

Building Bridges in Politics: United Against Patriarchy and Repression
•Ms. Ana Miranda, MEP, Greens/EFA, Spain

Questions and Discussion with Moderators and Speakers

Thursday, 9 March 2023, 17.45-18.30

Closing Session – Room SPAAK 05B01

Conclusions, Recommendations and Final Resolution
Board of EUTCC