The Foreign Relations and European Union Coordination Center, established with the approval of the Governor's Office numbered 217, dated 3 February 2005, has been operating as the European Union and Foreign Relations Office as of September 2015.  In the European Union accession process of our country, our office has been carrying out the following works within Istanbul:
 
• Setting up the necessary infrastructure
• Preparation of the townspeople for EU citizenship
• Ensuring cooperation, communication and coordination in the adoption and implementation of the acquis, binding for EU member states.
 
As a fundamental principle, planning and implementing the necessary activities in the EU accession process, a social transformation project based on the cooperation of local governments, non-governmental organizations, public institutions and organizations, private sector and citizens, has been adopted 
 
Within this scope, the following activities are carried out:
 
1.    Investigating the ways and methods to benefit from positive developments during the candidacy period by communicating and exchanging information with EU organs;
2.    Guiding present and future studies and works on the EU by setting priorities for Istanbul;

3.    Establishing an information and documentation center for the benefit of public institutions and organizations, press, universities, local governments, non-governmental organizations and citizens regarding the organization and operation of the EU and  conduct continuous information activities; 
4.    Ensuring  direct cooperation and coordination with Presidency, Delegation of EU to Turkey,  and European Union and Foreign Relations Department of Ministry of Interior;

5.    Building and enhancing capacity within the Governorship units for better adoption and recoginiton of the EU acquis (acquisitions);
6.   Promoting Istanbul for EU membership in institutional, managerial and financial terms ;
7.    Transferring the knowledge and experience of the recent member states to the EU to all private, non-governmental and public institutions in Istanbul;
8.    Active participation in activities, meetings, discussion platforms, information sharing platforms, etc. to be held at national and international levels during the EU accession process and to deliver opinions in this regard; 
9.    Encouraging cooperation and information exchange with similar entities and related institutions in Turkey and EU countries by creating a solidarity platform specific to Istanbul;
10.    Informing and enlightening the public about EU membership and the advantages of being an EU citizen under the leadership of Governor’s Office; 
11.     Participation in various EU programs and projects, guiding the transfer of resources from existing funds and support programs by preparing new and original projects;
12.    Monitoring, evaluating  all sort of work and studies regarding the harmonization with the EU legislation within the framework of the duties of existing public institutions and organizations and ensuring required coordinator.

 

For information about the projects implemented by our office: www.abmerkez.com