The Turkey Europe Future Forum will be bringing young leaders together in Istanbul and Ankara from May 30 until June 7, 2015. Young leaders aged between 25 and 35 from Europe, especially Germany and Turkey, are now being invited to apply for a total of 30 places. The new program funded by Stiftung Mercator and organized by the Mercator Program Center for International Affairs (MPC) and Turkish Industry and Business association (TÜSİAD) provides a platform for interdisciplinary networking and continuing professional education.
Europe and Turkey are strongly connected with each other, especially because Turkey is an EU accession candidate. Both are currently experiencing major changes within their societies, their political systems and their economies. Numerous trouble spots necessitate swift decisions and new strategies. The Turkey Europe Future Forum provides young leaders with a platform for engaging into European-Turkish relations. From May 30 until June 7, 2015, the Future Forum will be run for the first time in Istanbul and Ankara by the Mercator Program Center for International Affairs (MPC) under the close cooperation of TÜSİAD and “Turkey Culture of Change Initiative” (TCCI). Funded by Stiftung Mercator, the Forum is advised on content by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR). In addition, academic cooperation is pursued with the Boğaziçi European School of Politics, which is a member of the Council of Europe’s network. The Future Forum is an intersectoral program which not only involves participants from the area of politics but also consciously endeavors to engage with interested individuals from business, academia and civil society.
The participants of the Future Forum are guided by a team of internationally renowned Co-Deans. Ümit Boyner, former president of TÜSİAD and Board Member of Boyner Holding, and Ruprecht Polenz, a longstanding member of the German Bundestag and chairman of its Committee on Foreign Affairs, are acting as Co-Deans of the program. “I wish to promote mutual understanding among young decision-makers from all areas of society in Europe and Turkey”, is how Ümit Boyner summarizes her motivation. “It is important to give the decisionmakers of tomorrow the opportunity to acquire and develop specialist expertise and a reliable network. This is something I strongly support, and I am happy to share my experience with these young Europeans”, is the reason Ruprecht Polenz gives for his involvement in the Turkey Europe Future Forum.
Exploring the subject of “Neighbourhood in Transition”, this year’s Forum will be looking at current developments in Europe and Turkey and discussing how the relationship of the two neighbours will be shaped in the future. The participants focus in lectures, seminars and continuing education workshops on different aspects of this topic and share their sector- and country-specific perspectives. In addition, high-ranking speakers, guests and hosts offer unique insights into the politics, economic affairs, culture and society of the participating countries.
Young leaders from all sectors aged between 25 and 35 are invited to apply for one of the 30 places in an open selection procedure. The costs of participating in the program will be borne by the organizers. The application deadline is March 15, 2015. The call for applications and further information can be found at www.mpcinternational.org.
Contact:
Press: Stiftung Mercator | Natalie Jurewitz
natalie.jurewitz@stiftung-mercator.de | T +49 201 24522-840
Program Europe: Mercator Program Center for International Affairs (MPC) | Annkatrin Kaiser
kaiser@mpc-international.org | T +49 201 365 782-15
Program Turkey: TÜSIAD | Nur Beler Levi
beler@tusiad.org | T +90 212 249 19 29 -157