In 2016, Stiftung Mercator’s liaison office in Turkey began its work. Since then, it has enabled exchange and dialogue between stakeholders from politics, academia and civil society – especially among young people – as well as supporting research projects and cultural initiatives. To date, the non-profit organisation has funded more than 100 projects with a total budget of over €50 million in and for the country.
Istanbul/Essen, 17 April 2026 – One example of the office’s work under the leadership of Dr Jannes Tessmann is the Istanbul Policy Center – Sabancı University – Stiftung Mercator Initiative. Established in 2012, its core element is the Mercator-IPC Fellowship Programme. It enables researchers and practitioners from Germany and other European countries to collaborate with Turkish partners on topics such as political partnership, democratisation and climate policy. Fellows have included well-known figures such as Bulgarian political scientist Ivan Krastev, journalist Aslı Aydıntaşbaş, as well as politicians Ruprecht Polenz and Yanis Varoufakis.
Another key partner is the organisation Anadolu Kültür, which supports arts and culture in Turkey and beyond. Its well-known founder Osman Kavala has been imprisoned since 2017 on changing and unfounded charges – despite a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights ordering the Turkish judiciary to release him immediately.
“The office is the focus point of our long-standing work with and on Turkey – especially in challenging times,” says Dr Lars Grotewold, Chief Executive Officer of Stiftung Mercator. “It provides a space where exchange continues and connections are maintained, even when relations between Europe and Turkey are strained.”
Contributing to Europe’s stability and capacity to act
“From the very beginning, the office has been one of our most important partners – and continues to be so,” emphasised German Consul General Dr Regine Grienberger in her speech at the anniversary celebration of the Stiftung Mercator Istanbul office. Through its outstanding work, she said, it brings together Turkish, German and other European actors from politics, academia and civil society to address shared challenges. “We look forward to continuing this close and productive cooperation in the years to come.”
“Strong and resilient relations with Turkey are crucial for Europe’s stability and capacity to act, whether through economic interdependence or the country’s role as a regional middle power,” says Dr. Jannes Tessmann, who has headed the office since 2019. “Through our work, we help to deepen and strengthen cooperation between Germany and Turkey.”
The liaison office in Istanbul is a key component of Stiftung Mercator’s Turkey portfolio within its Europe in the World programme area. This includes other funded projects such as the Centre for Applied Turkey Studies at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) in Berlin and the German-Turkish Youth Bridge in Düsseldorf.
High-resolution images are available upon request.
PRESSCONTACT
Lothar Kuhn | Director Communications
T +49 201-245 22-36 | lothar.kuhn@stiftung-mercator.de
Dr. Jannes Tessmann | Head of Istanbul Office
T +90 546 500 62 84 | jannes.tessmann@stiftung-mercator.de
About Stiftung Mercator
Stiftung Mercator is a private, independent and non-profit organisation that operates on the basis of scientific expertise and practical project experience. Since 1996, it has been committed to fostering a solidary and participatory society. To this end, it supports and develops initiatives that improve opportunities for participation and strengthen social cohesion. Stiftung Mercator advocates for a capable and democratic Europe, a rights-based digital transformation of the state and society, and a resilient, socially balanced climate policy. These objectives can only be realised within a liberal democracy one that Stiftung Mercator seeks to defend and strengthen – as expressed in its motto: #StandingUpForDemocracy.The foundation is active in Germany, across Europe, and globally. It maintains a strong connection to the Ruhr region, home to the founding family and the foundation’s headquarters.
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