The 18th International Conference "The European Union, Turkey, the Middle East and the Kurds" organized by the EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC) is taking place in the European Parliament in Brussels.

The two-day event began on Wednesday afternoon with opening remarks and welcoming remarks by Kariane Westrheim, Chair of the EUTCC (University of Bergen, Norway), Dimitrios Papadimoulis, Vice-Chair of the European Parliament (Greece), and Andreas Schieder, MEP (Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, Austria). 

In her welcoming speech, Kariane Westrheim pointed out that the conference has a historic character, as it has been organized continuously for 18 years. The EUTCC chairwoman also addressed the Turkish state's attacks on Rojava and Southern Kurdistan and recalled that there are 20,000 political prisoners in Turkey. "We need to join forces," Westrheim said, adding that the Kurdish people need broad international support.

"Abdullah Öcalan must be released," demanded the Norwegian academic, referring to the international campaign launched on 10 October, adding that Abdullah Öcalan has had peace in mind since the founding of the PKK and has repeatedly made attempts to achieve it . "If a strong third party enters the negotiations and tries to persuade Turkey to make peace, peace can be possible. This may be a utopia, but this hope must be kept alive. I call on the European Parliament to support this vision and work towards it."

Papadimoulis: Start dialogue process, remove PKK from terrorist list

Dimitrios Papadimoulis from Greece, Vice President of the European Parliament from the European Green Left Group, said that criticism of the Turkish government is a constant issue in the European Parliament. "It is not a big priority in the European Commission and the Council of Europe. There, human rights and law are sometimes subordinated to political interests."

Papadimoulis further stated that a new dialogue should be started with Turkey and peace should be discussed. "For this reason, we must remove the PKK from the list of terrorist organizations," said Papadimoulis, citing Ireland as an example. A political solution must be sought. 

Schieder: As long as Abdullah Öcalan is in prison, there is no law

Austrian MEP Andreas Schieder from the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats said Turkey was in a very bad economic situation and the poorest were most affected. "We were hoping that something would change after the elections. But unfortunately this did not happen. A very difficult situation has arisen," said Schieder, adding: "The situation in Turkey is very bad at the moment. As long as Abdullah Öcalan is in prison, illegality will remain. Freedom for Öcalan is of symbolic importance, it is the freedom of the people."

Turkey after the elections

After the opening, the first session on "Turkey after the elections" began, moderated by Ayça Çubukçu from the London School of Economics and Politics. After an introduction by the moderator on the question of how and why Erdogan won in the elections in May 2023, EUTCC Secretary General Michael Gunter from the Technical University of Tennessee, journalist Irfan Aktan from Turkey, Kurdish politician and MP Çiğdem Kilicgün spoke Uçar (DBP), the writer Aslı Erdoğan, who lives in exile in Germany, and the Spanish MEP Ana Miranda (The Greens/EFA).

Today's programme

Thursday, 7th December 2023, 10.15-11.45

Panel IV – Room SPINELLI 1G2

Transition Period in World Politics

Moderator: Ms. Eda Bektas, KURD-AKAD, Germany

Interpretation in
English, Turkish, French, Spanish, German (with possibility to speak in Kurdish)

Ecocide and Climate Change – Local Responses to Multi-layered Crises in North East Syria
•Ms. Şermin Güven, Free University Berlin, Germany

The New World Order: Contradictions and Truths
•Ms. Nursel Aydogan, former HDP MP, Germany

Sweden, the NATO and the Kurds: Challenges and Options
•Ms. Lindsey Snell, journalist, US

The Middle East between Status Quo and Democratic Transition: Obstacles and Perspectives
•Ms. Asya Abdullah, PYD Co-Chair, Syria

Europe and the New World Order: Positions and Perspectives
•Mr. Nikolaj Villumsen, MEP, The Left, Denmark

Questions and Discussion with Moderators and Speakers

Thursday, 7th December 2023, 11.45-13.00
Panel IV – Room SPINELLI 1G2

Lasting Peace: Raising Voices

Moderator: Ms. Kariane Westrheim, EUTCC Chairperson, University of Bergen, Norway

Interpretation in
English, Turkish, French, Spanish, German (with possibility to speak in Kurdish)

Beyond the Island: The Systematics of Isolation
•Ms. Raziye Öztürk, Asrın Law Office, Turkey

The Conditions on the İmralı Prison Island in the Context of Health
•Ms. Dersim Dağdeviren, KURD-AKAD, EUTCC Board Member, Germany

The Causa İmralı: Open the Gates
•Ms. Laura Quagliuolo, Author of children’s books, Italy
•Ms. Zülfünaz Coskun, Kurdish Women’s Movement in Europe, Belgium

Questions and Discussion with Moderators and Speakers

Thursday, 7th December 2023, 15.00-16:30

Panel VI – Room SPINELLI 1G2

Living Freedom – Women’s Perspectives

Moderator: Ms. Shilan Fuad Hussain, Middlesex University London, UK

Interpretation in
English, Turkish, French, Spanish, German (with possibility to speak in Kurdish)

Feminist Foreign Policy: Contradictions and Options
•Ms. Dastan Jasim, German Institute for Global Area Studies, Germany

Women’s Revolution and the Middle East
•Ms. Soheila Shahriari, University of Paris, France

Jin, Jiyan, Azadî: A Call to World Democratic Women’s Confederalism
•Ms. Elif Kaya, Jineoloji Center Brussels, Belgium

Women & Politics: United Against War
•Ms. Özlem Alev Demirel, MEP, The Left, Germany

Questions and Discussion with Moderators and Speakers

Thursday, 7th December 2023, 16:30-17:30

Panel III – Room SPINELLI 1G2

The European Union and Turkey: Cooperation and Contradictions

Moderator: Mr. Naif Bezwan, University of Vienna, Austria

Interpretation in
English, Turkish, French, Spanish, German (with possibility to speak in Kurdish)

Interview with

•Mr. Nacho Sanchez Amor, MEP, Turkey Rapporteur, Spain

Questions and Discussion with Moderators and Speakers

Thursday, 7 December 2023, 17:30-18.00

Closing Session – Room SPAAK 05B01

Conclusions, Recommendations and Final Resolution
Board of EUTCC

Interpretation in
English, Turkish, French, Spanish, German (with possibility to speak in Kurdish)

•Mr. Miguel Urban Crespo, MEP, The Left, Spain
•Ms. Kariane Westrheim, Chair of EUTCC, University of Bergen, Norway
•Ms. Dersim Dağdeviren, KURD-AKAD, EUTCC Board Member, Germany