“Turkey: a bridge between the Mediterranean region and the Western Balkans”

Case study:

Belgrade, March 25th, 2015

What is in common?

A common vision:

The EU member countries Candidate countries the Southern neighborhood of

the EU

Developing closer relations

“ring of friends”

I want to see a "ring of friends" surrounding the Union and its closest European neighbors, from Morocco to Russia and the Black Sea.

Romano Prodi, Former President of the European Commission, Brussels, 5-6 December 2002

Our countries also differ:

Democracy building,

Application of rule of law,

Governance issues,

Conflict resolution,

What unites our both groups of countries?

Peace, Stability, Security, Growth And Job Creation And The preservation of our natural environment.

Do not overestimate what divides us but rather focus on the common ground.

Our assets:

Our ties with the EU Strong and vibrant internal market Free trade with the EU The financial assistance from the EU

Issues we should concentrate together

SME policy Entrepreneurship Networking and access to information Innovation and access to finances Promoting social enterprises and cooperatives Norms and technical standards

An improved EU policy towads Mediterrenaean

What should be improved in the EU policy towards those regions to maximise their potentials:

Political attention and dedication of the EU, A strong commitment to enlargement and the creation of the “ring of friends”

Consequently (1);

Mediterranean: a bridge to be crossed (not as a border to be protected)

Visa issue must be solved

The EU want to attract brilliant minds: But, brilliant minds have relatives, friends and colleagues, whom they want to meet not only in Tunis, Rabat, Cairo or Istanbul but also in Brussels or Berlin.

Consequently (2);

Projects that bring real added value

More people to people contacts

Thank you